I giant electro-magnetic field scooping up Hydrogen from space to use a fuel, sounds good in theory but i bet it is impossible to build.
2007-09-28 04:06:15 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
No. Our technology is not up to the task.
2007-09-28 04:41:05 · answer #1 · answered by laurahal42 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did hear that once you calculate the device correctly it actually turns out to be the most effective way to slow a spacecraft down. Which will be important.... once we have found a way to accelerate it. The Bussard scoop is probably not going to pass the laugh test for a interstellar drive.
And while talking about the man, I can not remember a single one of his "inventions" that actually works. He seems to have had a lot of imagination, but proper application of theoretical physics does not seem to have been one of his strengths.
2007-09-28 04:28:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, I don't think so. A Bussard Ram-Jet would require an aperture several thousands of killometers in diameter to be able to work. It remains an interesting theoretical possibility.
Doug
2007-09-28 04:15:45 · answer #3 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope. Heck - they're not even done building the ISS. I don't think we're quite ready for a deep-space interstellar vehicle quite yet.
2007-09-28 04:09:31 · answer #4 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Its strictly theoretical. We would need considerably better materials than we possess at the moment to build such a thing. It would be gigantic.
2007-09-28 05:27:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, never.
2007-09-28 04:14:54 · answer #6 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋