Questions tagged [design-alternative]
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77
questions
6
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1answer
281 views
What would be the challenges for a 50 km long tether to the surface of Venus to get recurrent surface samples there?
Basalt fiber would be an excellent material for a tether in the atmosphere of Venus because it could withstand both the acidity and the high temperature near the surface there.
From this answer ...
1
vote
1answer
97 views
Would mass drivers be able to transport base material on the moon more efficiently than drones?
I am a hobbyist working on a climate change adaptation idea that is a variation of orbital sun shades. It would project soil/material from the moon to provide targeted shading for whatever part of ...
1
vote
0answers
82 views
Can we use a drone instead of rocket? [duplicate]
I would like to know if it is possible to use a drone instead of the rocket to launch a satellite into orbit.
If no, then I would like to know why, and if yes, then in which countries would this be ...
4
votes
1answer
86 views
Question about orbital mechanics and trajectories for a space infrastructure project/climate adaption idea
I’m working on an alternate approach to the concept of using a solar shield to shade the earth from the Sun (to help with climate change adaptation). It would use streams of lunar soil from multiple ...
2
votes
1answer
190 views
Can jet engines be used to launch a rocket?
Following up on my previous question Can a VASIMR Plasma engine be used to launch a rocket?, I was told that VASIMR plasma thrusters are inefficient in an atmosphere. I then had the idea of using jet ...
6
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2answers
1k views
Can a VASIMR Plasma engine be used to launch a rocket?
When I was in primary school, I spent countless hours designing spaceships that probably wouldn’t work. It’s only now that I’ve stumbled across some of the old drawings and actually thought if it ...
2
votes
3answers
252 views
Would it be possible to send a nuclear bomb to Europa and make a hole in the ice of more than 11 km?
The idea is to carry an atomic bomb in an orbiter and throw it towards the surface, would it be plausible?
4
votes
1answer
191 views
Is a Lofstrom loop realistic
Is a Lofstrom loop (also known as launch loop) realistic?
The general idea behind a Lofstrom loop is a large structure intended for easier access to space, held up by active support (think rotating ...
3
votes
1answer
153 views
Could a solar sail composed of smart glass stay near the L1 point of Venus?
From answers to this question i've learned that the Lagrangian L$_1$ point of Venus is not stable, despite the almost circular orbit of the planet and the fact that it has no moon.
Nevertheless would ...
1
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0answers
87 views
How many Starship launches would it take to build this simple centrifugal space station concept?
Every centrifugal space station design I have seen uses either a large curved material or an inflatable structure. There have been no large scale curved material construction in space and only one ...
2
votes
2answers
344 views
What are the calculations for gas transport to the Moon with a pipeline?
This paper, acquired from this question about tethers on the Moon, describes LADDER, a mission to deploy a Lunar Space Elevator (LSE).
The space tether, made of Zylon fiber, would be 264,000 km long,...
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votes
1answer
135 views
A question about the feasibility of the Casimir propulsion system [closed]
There is a connection between vacuum energy density and the Casimir effect , see :
https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0204125
Another reference can be found here:
https://aapt.scitation.org/doi/10.1119/...
0
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0answers
55 views
I consider it possible to reposition orbitals without reboost and no thrusters I would like to discuss this Idea with someone? [duplicate]
Ok I'm going to label this idea "Skiing in Space" as that analogy is possible the simplest to grasp the concept.
When a person moves on skis he/she has to shift body weight to the relevant side to ...
1
vote
1answer
116 views
Is it theoretically possible to create absolute velocity?
I think I read somewhere that it's impossible to create absolute zero velocity because there is always a reference point? what defines the reference?
I seen the comments here: https://www.quora.com/...
2
votes
1answer
57 views
Does deploying an artificial planet help us study and collect more detailed data about the solar system and the universe?
If we have a space station that can orbit like a planet, wouldn't it give us an advantage in terms of positioning for astronomical experiments? This may also enhance the network transmission ...
1
vote
1answer
144 views
Can we hang a really large rope or wire from space to the Earth? [duplicate]
I have a very simple question that can we hang a really large wire from space to the Earth?
What if we build some turbine kind of thing that can produce electricity in space and we transfer that from ...
-4
votes
1answer
173 views
Magnetic force-driven propulsion system for an interplanetary/interstellar spacecraft
I have come up with a conceptual idea of a magnetic force-driven space propulsion system. What I believe is very unique about this propulsion system concept is that its working principle should not ...
0
votes
1answer
74 views
Is it useful to exploit turbojets or turbofans for rockets like that (for mid & heavy-lift ones)? [duplicate]
In fact, Atmo is very hostile for classical rockets. It makes them too sizable, heavy & inefficient as well. To shift this situation needs to get another propellant, but we have fallen short here. ...
2
votes
2answers
126 views
Is it possible to use hybrid propulsion to drive the turbopump?
Turbopump are driven either by a preburner or by an electrical engine (OK this technology is quite new and currently in 2019 only used on the Rutherford engine).
If I understand correctly, using ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
Would it be achievable to use the first stage of a launch to Venus as the envelope of an airship in its atmosphere?
Like the Orbiter Vehicle of the Space Shuttle was mounted on its external tank, the "gondola", the crewcar of the airship, could be likewise mounted on the last stage of the launch rocket, that would ...
1
vote
1answer
227 views
Could a CubeSat be propelled by this low-tech electromagnetic propulsion system?
I have come up with a conceptual idea for a low-tech electromagnetic propulsion system for a CubeSat, and I would like to know if it would create (on a theoretical basis) a net force strong enough to ...
4
votes
2answers
641 views
Compressed gas thruster for an orbital launch vehicle?
Is it possible for a compressed gas thruster to be used to launch a spacecraft into orbit?
Let's say, it's already moving at 250MPH(111.7 meters/second) relative to the planets surface.
Planets ...
1
vote
1answer
100 views
Could in situ (in-rocket) evaporative cooling/refrigeration be used for methane or hydrogen cryogenic propellants?
@Uwe's excellent answer to the question Why would sub-cooled LOX tanks need to “topped-off” until the last minute or so? explains that the LOX is sub-cooled in situ within the rocket's tank using ...
6
votes
1answer
315 views
Why can’t cryogenic propellants be storable, at least on the ground, via refrigeration?
Cryogenic fuels (liquid hydrogen, liquid methane)1 and oxidisers (liquid oxygen)2 are the rocket propellants of choice where raw performance is the overriding concern, due to the very high performance ...
3
votes
4answers
176 views
Could we build a sunlight regulator to orbit the sun and help with global warming? [duplicate]
like less sunlight around the poles would be good.
if we put it in orbit close to the sun we may not need it to be that large.
we can keep it in good position with RF cavity thrusters and mini ...
1
vote
0answers
47 views
Is it possible to remove space junk using magnets? [duplicate]
I have heard that the earth is surrounded with tiny bits of "space junk".
I was wondering, why not send a large magnet into orbit and collect all the junk?
And by time the magnet is covered with ...
12
votes
7answers
8k views
Could a space colony 1g from the sun work?
Let me break down my thoughts and I have no science background so let me know if this could even be possible.
Have the colony on an object like a big asteroid or a similar man made construct.
Have ...
2
votes
1answer
139 views
Could the ISS put a ring around the Earth?
I was reading about orbital rings, and more specifically I was thinking about how one could be constructed. It obviously would need angular momentum, because each piece of the ring (if separated from ...
4
votes
1answer
162 views
What might be a viable avenue of propulsion research in aiming for mission delta-V north of 100 km/s?
This question was inspired by some comments of mine I left on an answer here:
Is it better to develop more powerful rockets instead of seeking and developing new technologies?
and thus in turn both ...
1
vote
0answers
63 views
Most challenging aspects of a reusable satellite scheme like this?
What would be the most challenging aspects of a reusable satellite scheme similar to the one shown in this video? For the kilo-constellations (e.g. SpaceX's StarLink with 4,500 to 7,500 satellites) ...
5
votes
1answer
223 views
Could a fairing vacuum protect the payload from acoustic loads?
This is a weirder question, but here it goes:
During launch, a payload (let's say a satellite) undergoes intense shaking and acoustic loads. This is known from the launcher parameters and the ...
-1
votes
1answer
195 views
Could a Rotary Rocket charge a super capacitor while descending on Mars?
Could a rotary rocket entering the atmosphere collect enough energy in a super capacitor through the rotors (along with auto rotation) while descending to have a controlled landing in the last few ...
2
votes
1answer
226 views
Super Capacitor Stages
Could this super capacitor be up scaled to be of use in the lower stages of a rocket?
Here is the only information I found online on this?
Related: Could rockets ...
0
votes
1answer
66 views
Could a solar panel be modified to also collect a static charge on Mars?
I was waiting for someone to piece both of these questions together into another question. @Dragongeek was the first, Could a solar panel be modified to create a static charge while spinning to remove ...
5
votes
3answers
312 views
Fast spining solar cells to clear Martian dust possible?
I've seen a fast spinning glass wheel used in front of a camera to clear away water, dust or ice.
Could Solar panels be made circular and spin to clear dust off of them in the same way may?
As ...
2
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2answers
172 views
Could electricity be generated from a Martian dust storm?
This helicopter is producing static electricity from the blades moving through the dusty air.
Along with the electricity provided by wind generators could additional power be created this way from ...
33
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6answers
9k views
Why aren't air breathing engines used as small first stages?
I am wondering why we don't use jet engines as first stages. Most small rockets, like the Electron, can lift off with a small thrust. In the Electron's case, 192 kN. Why can't we replace the 9 ...
2
votes
2answers
268 views
What is the shielding capability of liquid metal compaired to solid metal?
For simplicity, consider a spherical metal shape for shielding cargo/people behind. (The liquid ball is supposed to be between the Sun and the cargo. Not people inside it.)
A problem I see is that it ...
3
votes
2answers
284 views
Would it be practical to add side payloads on top of Falcon Heavy's side boosters?
Those side payloads / side fairings, would be strapped on central core second stage, on top of side boosters.
The idea is to increase payload volume without (that much) changing drag during the lift ...
1
vote
1answer
113 views
Can an Ion engine in tow assist in launch? [closed]
This question asks: How large a body could a probe with ion engines land on and launch from? and made me think could an ion engine that is the payload be mounted in a way to assist in the launch?
-1
votes
1answer
118 views
How to build a space catapult large enough to shoot a one hundered thousand ton spaceship in to low orbit?
I assume calculations start with the payload weight. A massive foundation would be needed lots of concrete and rebar meters thick. Also a harmonically sealed tunnel a thousand miles long filled with ...
0
votes
1answer
115 views
Will a spacecraft accelerate in a gravitational field via the use of a powered rotating mass?
I believe that a powered rotating mass on board a spacecraft should result in the spacecraft being propelled in a continuous increasing velocity towards the source of the gravitational field.
To help ...
-1
votes
1answer
195 views
Could this satellite wobble in orbit creating additional orbital angular momentum?
This question asks if this type of steam engine would work: Could a steam Engine outperform other electric producing devices in space? this not a sterling engine since it has far less moving parts.
...
12
votes
2answers
3k views
Can a rocket refuel on Mars from water?
Can a rocket run only on hydrogen and oxygen? Could a rocket, rover, and electrolysis machine be sent to either of Mars' poles to excavate ice to make hydrogen and oxygen to refuel an unmanned rocket?
...
-2
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1answer
165 views
Could a rocket launch off water horizontally in stages us using water and air for lift to save fuel? [duplicate]
A term I have heard is the "water was like class". Meaning that the water had 0 waves. Could a rocket be modified to take off a horizontal surface starting slowly increasing throttle on each stage? ...
26
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9answers
6k views
Would a grinding machine be a simple and workable propulsion system for an interplanetary spacecraft?
I am wondering if any space agency has ever considered using a grinding machine as a propulsion system for an interplanetary spacecraft. This system would not be used to lift the spacecraft off of a ...
3
votes
1answer
196 views
Could escape velocity be achieved in the atmosphere?
When rockets launch for orbit they travel up and the air thins respectively to the speed increasing.
How fast can a rocket for travel at sea level before it would fail or the elevation would have to ...
2
votes
2answers
158 views
Break Away Valves for Launch [duplicate]
I forgot to hang up the fuel pump and broke it off and costed around 80 dollars to replace. While there I wandered could this be adapted to a rocket in some way?
How much fuel capacity would be saved ...
4
votes
1answer
339 views
Could a “nuclear turbo-jet” be built?
Being familiar with jet engines myself, I wonder whether a similar device could be built to provide high $I_{\text{sp}}$ and high thrust in vacuum and space. Using the tried-and-true turbojet formula ...
3
votes
0answers
214 views
Could a steam Engine outperform other electric producing devices in space? [closed]
What would be the Specific Impulse of a steam-based propulsion system like this model in space?
Are there any types of engine that works this way?
Could 2 tanks be designed to rotate slowly in space ...
