Spaceflight

Plasma bubble could protect astronauts on Mars trip

Posted by Billbar from New Scientist Space

The details still need to be worked out, but the basic approach is clear. A high voltage device on the spacecraft would tear the hydrogen into its constituent protons and electrons. This plasma would then be spewed out into space, creating a cloud around the spacecraft. There would need to be a wire mesh outside the spacecraft and enclosing the plasma cloud. Electricity supplied to the mesh would keep an electrical current running in the plasma cloud and help confined it near the spacecraft. The plasma's magnetic field would be a powerful deflector of cosmic rays, equivalent to aluminium shielding several inches thick, John Slough of the University of Washington says.

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NASA's New Cev Launcher to Maximize Use of Space Shuttle Components

Posted by Jip from Spaceref

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