This forming a Magnetic Shield,would this stop solar winds,radiation from space and help speed the craft?
sorry if not spelt right
2006-09-13 05:27:16 · 12 answers · asked by Richie D 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Interesting idea, but not very practical. Kind of like the shields on the Enterprise in the Star Trek shows . . .
Those would have to some massive permanent magnets to be able to deflect the solar winds enough to shield the Shuttle. And electromagnets paowerful enough to do the job would require huge amounts of power -- more than the Shuttle could provide as currently configured. And even then, they'd only be effective when pointed directly at the source of the radiation.
And such magnets would not help the Shuttle go faster, they'd just add mass that would require more power to achieve the same velocities as currently attained.
2006-09-13 05:33:56 · answer #1 · answered by Dave_Stark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not really. Though it will form a magnetic field, thus helping to reduce the amount of radiation that will effect the shuttle, the problem is, the magnets have to be large enough to cause a magnetic field almost as strong as the earth's to completely stop radiation from entering.
In terms of propulsion, magnets will not help because though they will attact, or repel, each other. As both of them are connected to the space shuttle itself, it would either try to sandwich the space shuttle between them, or try to pull it apart. So if the shuttle is not moving, it won't start moving, and if it is traveling at a certain speed, it will travel at that constant speed.
2006-09-13 13:30:53 · answer #2 · answered by shekum 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Been thought of and it is not practical. To deflect protons you would need stupidly powerfull magnets which would be so big that they would be impossible to lift.
There are also gammas and neutral ions which would ignore magnetic fields.
The space shuttle does not need any shielding, it stays below the radiation belts and is never lauched just after a major solar flare. The big problem is going to Mars which nobody has really got an answer for yet.
2006-09-13 15:03:46 · answer #3 · answered by m.paley 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To use magnetic field to reduce radiation and solar wind effects? It wouldn't help too much. To use magnets to power the craft? That's something different.
The ideea is not new, but the big question is: how you move those magnets? You see, those magnets need to be dettached from the shuttle to work. One ideea would be to create a strong magnetic field not using solid magnets but electromagnetism or plasma. That could work, the only problem is that takes a LOT of energy to do it, energy generated by the craft... so, we are back to square one: you need another kind of engine.
2006-09-13 12:38:12 · answer #4 · answered by Zeke 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would have to be awfully powerful to do any good. Also, remember that the Van Allen belt is the result of the Earth's field. All it does is collect the radiation and particles and funnel some of them into the Aurora Borealis. Still sound like a good idea?
2006-09-13 12:44:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are ignorant. Radiation is not affected by magnetic fields dummy. Also a magnet that large would be bery heavy and too heavy to launch into space dummy. Magnets would affect the instruments in the space craft and cause electromechanical problems dummy. You are real dumb dummy.
2006-09-13 13:05:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
If you did that, the shuttle would be very heavy, and it would take off, fly a while, then crash.
The earth's core is magnetic remember?
2006-09-13 12:37:19 · answer #7 · answered by Jason N 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats like asking, could you put a shuttle inbetween 2 magnets, ennit
2006-09-13 12:38:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
hmmm... would they be heavy?? gamma rays would still get through...
2006-09-13 12:39:42 · answer #9 · answered by Shane 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this would cause a crash
2006-09-13 12:39:06 · answer #10 · answered by russellhamuk 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋