starship-design: Re: Here's an Idea

[KellySt@aol.com]

Hi,
Unfortunately your fluorescent tube idea won't do what you think.  The tube
only converts energy from an external power source (magnetic pulses from the
lamp's power source, or other nearby AC power systems) to light.  Useful if
you need light, but it can't generate more power for thrust (you'd do better
to just use a magnet against the external magnetic fields for thrust).  We had
tinkered with the idea of tapping interstellar magnetic fields for power, but
the fields seem far too weak to use.

Oh, as to using the power of earth's magnetic fields, they (or a star's
magnetic fields) don't reach far enough.  The Starship would blast past them
in less than a second at full speed.  It would be like trying to stop a bullet
with a Kleenex.  Worse, if it did work, the ship would be vaporized.

I'll forward your letter to the group though, and thanks for writing!

Kelly





In a message dated 7/31/98 3:27:59 PM, you wrote:

>Hello Kelly. 
>
>I was viewing your site, the one where you are trying to design a starship
>
>capable of going to another system and slowing down then returning all
>
>within a respectable time-frame. I also noticed that you were having
>
>trouble with drive-systems and slow-down methods. Well I have plausible
>
>answers for both but for now I will give you one of my theories for a
>
>star-drive. 
>
>Firstly, are you familiar with the concepts of a fluorescent tube. These
>
>devices are revolutionary in creating light. They are efficent,
>
>long-lasting and quite hardy. Unlike light bulbs. Now both of these devices
>
>create light. But only one of these is capable of operating in a
>
>high-airborne energy environment. Like that near a high-tension power line.
>
>Second. If a fluorescent light can create light through it's internal
>
>workings, could it be possible that it could, if modified, create a
>
>different type of energy under the same situation. It is also known that
>
>fluorescent lights emit a low-level radiation pulse that can affect smoke
>
>alarms. As I was saying, I have made a fluorescent light, with severe
>
>modifications, emit more radiation and a steady stream of magnetic forces.
>
>It also produces light but not much.
>
>Finally. I believe that with more refining, this new type of "generator"
>
>could be used to produce forces that may be productive. Imagine a wheel of
>
>these devices, spinning at super high speeds. All generating magnetic
>
>forces. I reckon that should be able to push something. For example, when I
>
>approached my device with a fridge magnet in hand. I could feel pulsating
>
>(rapid) pushes on the magnet, trying to move it away from the device. The
>
>closer I got, the harder it was to get the fridge magnet closer.
>
>By the way, the radiation was harmless.
>
>I hope you recieved my diagram. It is simple but I have no scanner, so
>
>using my limited art skills, I drew it as a bitmap. It is viewable in any
>
>paint program. Under Win95 of course. 
>
>A brief explanation of it.
>
>The diagram displays the device as it is now.
>
>There is the shell, the original exterior of the fluro tube. Then inside
>
>that is the rod of host material which emits energy which reacts with the
>
>Particle Z floating around between the shell and the host material. Finally
>
>there is the depicted magnetic waves eminating from the tube. Based on what
>
>the device does, I call it:
>
>The THERMOELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTOR.
>
>A fancy name yes, but necessary. It helps remind me about how the device
>
>works at it's most basic principal. Now all that is needed is a way to use
>
>this generator to push a starship. I believe that as a wild theory, why not
>
>push the drive against the Earth's magnetic field. If not then how about
>
>inside a rotating drum orbitting Earth, which projects the magnetic energy
>
>which is the same polarity as that produced by thermo inductor. When you
>
>activate the drive, whoosh! The magnetic forces collide and the ship is
>
>flung into space. The rotating action of the tube acts like the spiralling
>
>inside the barrel of a rifle. It helps to keep the ship straight. 
>
>And second last but not least a few cosmic rules.
>
>The ship would have to be made of a non magnetic material and any computer
>
>systems on board would have to be protected somehow. 
>
>The ship would not have to be very large but if it were then
>
>hypothetically, the bigger the engine, the bigger the thrust.
>
>As a possible slow down, simple rocket boosters could be used. 
>
>As a return, if a reverse tube was not installed at the destination planet
>
>or system, then it could be possible to push against the magnetic field of
>
>a planet.
>
>If no planet existed then problems arise but for the first trip, the ship
>
>or maybe several ships would probably have to carry with them, either in
>
>tow or in storage, the equipment and raw materials to build a reverse tube
>
>at the proper destination. 
>
>Also, to correct course, simple rocket thrusters could be installed on the
>
>exterior hull of the ship.
>
>As for 1/3 1/2 or even light speed travel, I am not sure. Maybe the drive
>
>could do it, if not then it would make a damn good solar system based
>
>traveller.
>
>And for energy, it would require only electrical power for the drive, as a
>
>bonus though, because the device is still essentially a fluorescent tube,
>
>the energy demands aren't all that high. The only solid fuel would be for
>
>the thrusters. A moderate amount would be required for the deceleration but
>
>exactly how much I do not know. 
>
>And Last But Not Least. A few words from me to you.
>
>I am trusting this information to you on the grounds that you limit it's
>
>transmission to only relevent persons. Please post it to your web-site if
>
>you want but mask out my name at the end of this document. I have had a few
>
>"experiences" with people who want my work very much and I would like to
>
>avoid alerting those people that my work is nearing a practical stage.
>
>Please follow my directions and delete this paragraph and my identifying
>
>details.
>
>Thank you ever so much and I hope you like my semi-practical theory.
>
>
>
>Care of SHADY DEATH
>
>vfecool@one.net.au
>
>feel free to E-mail me if you are interested in any further theories.