[Space/Spaceships] Getting the velocity/Delta V I want with the tech I want

Belial666 · 04-08-2014, 06:38 PM

Also, you could use combination of solar panels and magnetrohydrodynamic propulsion. Basically same array of mirrors as before, except the ship has solar panels instead of mirrors and is built around a really powerful accelerator and lots of water supply.

1) Mirrors feed ship with solar power at long distances. Current efficiency of triple-layer solar panels has reached 47% or so thus if you're hitting the ship with a beam 100 KW/square meter in energy density, you'll get about 50 KW per square meter of panel, which is not bad. Assuming your panels can take it, that is.

2) You use a tiny portion of the energy to ionize water and throw the plasma into the accelerator.

3) Accelerator pushes out the plasma at 1/10 the speed of light or so. That should give a LOT of Delta-V for a ship that's 80% water.

04-08-2014, 06:38 PM	#11
Belial666 Join Date: Jan 2011	Re: [Space/Spaceships] Getting the velocity/Delta V I want with the tech I want Also, you could use combination of solar panels and magnetrohydrodynamic propulsion. Basically same array of mirrors as before, except the ship has solar panels instead of mirrors and is built around a really powerful accelerator and lots of water supply. 1) Mirrors feed ship with solar power at long distances. Current efficiency of triple-layer solar panels has reached 47% or so thus if you're hitting the ship with a beam 100 KW/square meter in energy density, you'll get about 50 KW per square meter of panel, which is not bad. Assuming your panels can take it, that is. 2) You use a tiny portion of the energy to ionize water and throw the plasma into the accelerator. 3) Accelerator pushes out the plasma at 1/10 the speed of light or so. That should give a LOT of Delta-V for a ship that's 80% water.