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MagBeam Propulsion: To Mars And Back In 90 Days
space.com ^ | 10/20/04 | Bill Christensen

Posted on 10/20/2004 5:27:54 PM PDT by KevinDavis

Magnetized-beam plasma propulsion, or MagBeam propulsion, could cut the time required for long journeys around the solar system from years to weeks. How can it do this? People usually think of a spacecraft as a ship with both payload and power source. The MagBeam system separates these two logical units; the power source stays in one place (for example, in permanent orbit around the Earth). Spacecraft are pushed to other parts of the solar system; the plasma beam also offers the potential for greater acceleration.

(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: hereitcomesdidntit; mars; space
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Cool...
1 posted on 10/20/2004 5:27:54 PM PDT by KevinDavis
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To: RightWhale; Brett66; xrp; gdc314; sionnsar; anymouse; RadioAstronomer; NonZeroSum; jimkress; ...

2 posted on 10/20/2004 5:28:19 PM PDT by KevinDavis (Let the meek inherit the Earth, the rest of us will explore the stars!)
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To: KevinDavis

Nah, all you need is a Cadillac CTS-V -- that'll get you to Mars before your friend in the Audi A6 can get the engine cranked!


3 posted on 10/20/2004 5:29:52 PM PDT by KateatRFM
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To: KevinDavis

sounds great, don't hold your breath though. They need to make it sound good to keep their funding.


4 posted on 10/20/2004 5:31:08 PM PDT by kinoxi
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To: KevinDavis

I just heard that the reason we don't have this yet is that it's Bushs's fault. But Kerry has a plan to make this a reality in his first term. . . .


5 posted on 10/20/2004 5:32:54 PM PDT by webstersII
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To: KevinDavis

Have they got this technology worked out yet or is this another thing I am going to have to solve for them.

;>)


6 posted on 10/20/2004 5:33:04 PM PDT by DSBull (Leather Belts, with Liberal logic everywhere they are keeping my head from exploding)
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To: KevinDavis

Warp Speed Mr. Scott....

I just wonder who will be the people who travel to Mars to put up the receiving station?


7 posted on 10/20/2004 5:35:08 PM PDT by MikefromOhio (Rudi Bahktiar is hot!!!! Too bad she works for CNN.....)
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To: MikeinIraq

I wouldn't mind..


8 posted on 10/20/2004 5:36:44 PM PDT by KevinDavis (Let the meek inherit the Earth, the rest of us will explore the stars!)
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To: kinoxi
They need to make it sound good to keep their funding.

One wonders how much shielding has to be added to protect the vessel from its propulsion beam.
9 posted on 10/20/2004 5:36:59 PM PDT by ARCADIA (Abuse of power comes as no surprise)
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To: KevinDavis

me neither.....probably would pay very very well....


10 posted on 10/20/2004 5:37:53 PM PDT by MikefromOhio (Rudi Bahktiar is hot!!!! Too bad she works for CNN.....)
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To: MikeinIraq

No it would pay very very very very very very very very well.


11 posted on 10/20/2004 5:39:14 PM PDT by KevinDavis (Let the meek inherit the Earth, the rest of us will explore the stars!)
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To: KevinDavis

I dont like the idea of stationary power sources for interplanetary or any space travel.


12 posted on 10/20/2004 5:39:25 PM PDT by aft_lizard (Actually i voted for John Kerry before I voted against him.)
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To: KevinDavis

It will never happen.


13 posted on 10/20/2004 5:40:55 PM PDT by Galena Nevada
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To: KevinDavis
Already posted!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1245207/posts

14 posted on 10/20/2004 5:41:26 PM PDT by bondserv (Alignment is critical! †)
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To: ARCADIA
They shouldn't need much shielding - a plasma beam is a bunch of particles, like electrons and ions (atoms missing an electron - so net positive charge). Any solid surface will stop it. You've got plasma beams (just the electrons, in this case) inside your Television. The glass tube stops it.

There is no radiation involved that requires shielding. Radiation involves much faster, much smaller stuff that can penetrate solids.

15 posted on 10/20/2004 5:51:07 PM PDT by ThePythonicCow (I was humble, before I was born. -- J Frondeur Kerry)
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To: aft_lizard
That's it - cancel the project. Aft_lizard doesn't like it. Stop the presses, fire the entire staff and burn the design documents !!

er eh - why don't you like it ;)?

16 posted on 10/20/2004 5:53:35 PM PDT by ThePythonicCow (I was humble, before I was born. -- J Frondeur Kerry)
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To: Galena Nevada
How do you know this?
17 posted on 10/20/2004 5:54:29 PM PDT by ThePythonicCow (I was humble, before I was born. -- J Frondeur Kerry)
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To: ThePythonicCow
Don't ya just love the "experts" around here who show up on EVERY technology thread to tell us all why "it will never work"?

It amazes me how anything ever gets done.

18 posted on 10/20/2004 6:03:48 PM PDT by TomB ("The terrorist wraps himself in the world's grievances to cloak his true motives." - S. Rushdie)
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To: kinoxi
sounds great, don't hold your breath though. They need to make it sound good to keep their funding.

Just like that Apollo moon-landing hoax, eh?

19 posted on 10/20/2004 6:05:24 PM PDT by TomB ("The terrorist wraps himself in the world's grievances to cloak his true motives." - S. Rushdie)
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To: TomB

Maybe this has already been answered, but how do they keep the thing aimed properly when everything in space is always moving?


20 posted on 10/20/2004 6:11:05 PM PDT by WestVirginiaRebel (John Kerry is a hunter like my name is Mohommad.)
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