01-06-2018, 12:33 PM
I remember reading about the Mini-Magnetosphere concept some years ago, but then remember reading something about it not panning out, although whether that was due to experimental or theoretical/mathematical reasons, I don't remember.
Based on a quick skim through the article, it appears that this version of the tech has some experimental backing, which is rather cool
Also based on reading down the article, it looks like some related variations of the tech could allow such things as a 'virtual heat shield' for aerobraking or even re-entry and landing - which is definitely something I think we should consider for OA
The latter part of the article also talks about a more advanced design that might be able to tack against the solar wind and so be able to travel in toward the sun as well as away.
Getting back to the sail itself, in the immediate term we could add this sort of thing into the early part of the timeline, perhaps in connection with the Project Thistledown mentioned in the tech timeline (sending space probes all over the system launched by mag-beam) or as some kind of earlier mission that predated Thistledown. We might also postulate sails of this sort used for the Mars mission that delivered the first mag-beam station to that planet or the like.
I don't think these would be sufficiently robust to handle a full on boostbeam, but they might also be a potential alternative to the electric sail included in the mining ship design currently in development on the forum.
Finally, and coming at this from an editorial direction, we have an increasing number of mentions of various forms of magnetic sail propulsion. Perhaps we should either expand the existing Drive Sails page or create a new article to offer an overview of all of them.
I should also look at putting together an article on magbeam propulsion since we mention it in the timeline but don't really explain it. Perhaps after I get the S2 article finalized, since I think it is close to being done.
Thoughts?
Todd
Based on a quick skim through the article, it appears that this version of the tech has some experimental backing, which is rather cool
Also based on reading down the article, it looks like some related variations of the tech could allow such things as a 'virtual heat shield' for aerobraking or even re-entry and landing - which is definitely something I think we should consider for OA
The latter part of the article also talks about a more advanced design that might be able to tack against the solar wind and so be able to travel in toward the sun as well as away.
Getting back to the sail itself, in the immediate term we could add this sort of thing into the early part of the timeline, perhaps in connection with the Project Thistledown mentioned in the tech timeline (sending space probes all over the system launched by mag-beam) or as some kind of earlier mission that predated Thistledown. We might also postulate sails of this sort used for the Mars mission that delivered the first mag-beam station to that planet or the like.
I don't think these would be sufficiently robust to handle a full on boostbeam, but they might also be a potential alternative to the electric sail included in the mining ship design currently in development on the forum.
Finally, and coming at this from an editorial direction, we have an increasing number of mentions of various forms of magnetic sail propulsion. Perhaps we should either expand the existing Drive Sails page or create a new article to offer an overview of all of them.
I should also look at putting together an article on magbeam propulsion since we mention it in the timeline but don't really explain it. Perhaps after I get the S2 article finalized, since I think it is close to being done.
Thoughts?
Todd