It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Under the mag-beam concept, a space-based station would generate a stream of magnetized ions that would interact with a magnetic sail on a spacecraft and propel it through the solar system at high speeds that increase with the size of the plasma beam. Winglee estimates that a control nozzle 32 meters wide would generate a plasma beam capable of propelling a spacecraft at 11.7 kilometers per second. That translates to more than 26,000 miles an hour or more than 625,000 miles a day.
Originally posted by jra
Well I hope this hasn't been posted already, if so, please delete this.
There is a concept for a new type of propulsion is being developed. If it all works out, it could cut down the travel time to Mars to just 90 days. From the article:
Under the mag-beam concept, a space-based station would generate a stream of magnetized ions that would interact with a magnetic sail on a spacecraft and propel it through the solar system at high speeds that increase with the size of the plasma beam. Winglee estimates that a control nozzle 32 meters wide would generate a plasma beam capable of propelling a spacecraft at 11.7 kilometers per second. That translates to more than 26,000 miles an hour or more than 625,000 miles a day.
You can read more about it here
Originally posted by Brian697
Hello. Im new and I am sure this may sound dumb but here goes. Why keep the beam and sail separated? If you were to say mount the magnetized sail on the front of the vessel and the beam on the back It would be like mounting a large fan on the back of a sailboat. The ship would probably be very large but if it would work you would not have to build the large earth oribiting station PLUS the mars orbiting station to propel the ship. Did that make sense?
Originally posted by jra
Well I hope this hasn't been posted already
Originally posted by Brian697
I forgot about the deceleration. Maybe a sail in front and a sail in back with the beam in the middle? Somebody explain if the force from the beam would propel the craft forward of if it would actually cancel itself out (i.e. force from the beam hitting the sail pushes forward but the beam itself pushes backward as it is emitted)