Could we re-fuel our sun?

Question

In the future, would it be possible to use the uninhabited planets in our solar system to re-fuel our sun?

Answer 1

i bet it costs more than $2.47 9/10 a gallon

Answer 2

All the other planets in the solar system would make only a small fractional difference in the fuel supply of our sun. All the planets, including Earth, only add up to about 1/1,000 the mass of the Sun. Since the Sun uses hydrogen for fuel, the 4 inner, rocky planets would not help. Even the gas giants like Jupiter contain a lot of methane and other gases, not just hydrogen.

Answer 3

The Sun is practically all hydrogen, with a small amount of helium. The hydrogen will run out one day, but not for many millions of years.
Despite this, the Sun is using a fantastic amount of hydrogen gas every second, about 6,000,000 tonnes, but it is estimated that the amount of hydrogen left would last around another 5000 million years. The Sun is a very stable star, although it is slightly variable in nature, and we should be very thankful, for even a small change in the output of energy of the Sun would have grave consequences for life on Earth.
The Sun is large, with a diameter of 886,000 miles at the equator, and it would take 1,303,600 Earths to equal its volume.
As you can understand, even if we had the technological means to re-fuel, we don't have the Hydrogen to do so.

As far as about your proposal, about the rest planets of our solar system, well..... all together including Earth, are equivalent of the less than 2% of the solar mass.

So, the answer is....IMPOSIBLE......
though... it will take time to consume all its fuel. approx 5000 milion years.

Until then, we shall find a way to go nearby other "stars".:)

Answer 4

The Sun is about 98% of the mass in the solar system, any amount we could refule from the rest of the system would be small. Any refueling we might do would increase the mass of the sun, making it burn faster. You would have to somehow simultaneously add Hydrogen and remove Helium on a scale so massive that the energy needed to do this would be better spent building a brand new sun somewhere else and moving Earth's biosphere to a planet or artificial construct there.

Answer 5

We dont need to refuel it. And if mass needs to be added to keep the cycle going, the asteriods and other small masses that are sucked into its gravity well are more than enough to keep it going. Why would we want to rip a celestial body from its place and feed it to the sun? The results may not be what we want them to be..

Experts say the sun is very well balanced in its state of reaction. Adding a large mass may COOL the sun a little too much. Any slowing in its fusion reactions could lead to a shut down.

Answer 6

Yes. But that would ruin the natural balance there is in space and the natural balance the sun has with the amount of fuel it is taking in.
And tell me this.. why would you want too anyway? It's insane. The sun is not going to run out of fuel for at least (well over) another 1 billion years.

Answer 7

No. Why would you want too? You will be dead before the sun goes out. But Jesus may come in your life time. Click my name and go to the link. And using planets to do that would mess up the gravitational balance, throwing all planets out of their orbit. NOT GOOD. And that person jax or whatever has a serious problem.

Answer 8

I believe that the sun is essentially creating its own fuel as it goes along. What causes the sun to go out is the build up of iron in the sun as these reactions continue. While you could maybe refuel it, how do get the iron out of it? That is the question.

Answer 9

nope, impossible. and if they could use the uninhabited planets they would all last at least 1 week. and you can't put hydrogen into it cuz you'll upset the balance in the sun and well you'll need to much of it. so nope, never gonna happen, sorry. we humans will have to move to another solar system. and besides, our sun if gonna turn into a giant. meaning, grow huge huge huge, and our atmosphere will get disolved water evaporated. all life killed.

Answer 10

The mass of all the planets put together would make around 8% of the mass of the sun - so the refuel would not last long and moving them would probably take up as much fuel as burning them would make.

Answer 11

I'm not sure if it's possible to do that or even worth the effort. We might as well find out a way to travel fast enough to make it to another solar system before trying something like that.