Robin <mixent...@aussiebroadband.com.au> wrote:
> A space ship traveling at half the speed of light would encounter these > molecules traveling in the opposite direction at > that velocity. Assuming that the kinetic energy of these particles is > calculated using 1/2 m*v^2 (it's actually more at > that speed), then the power associated with the impact on the hull of the > ship is about 1/2 MW /cm^2. > If we further assume that the hull is made of 1/2 cm thick Titanium, then > it will reach it's melting point after an > exposure of 4 milliseconds. > Arthur Clarke and others who thought about interstellar spacecraft discussed this problem. In the 1970s, Clarke thought this could be fixed by putting a giant piece of ice in front of the spaceship, to absorb the particles. The ice would be gradually worn away. I guess the estimate of the total mass of particles was smaller. Or he did his arithmetic wrong. If these numbers are correct, I suppose the only way to overcome the particles is by moving them out of the way. I guess a gigantic cow-catcher would not work. A science-fiction "force field" would be ideal, but there is no such thing as far as I know. Can the particles be given a charge from a distance, and then moved out of the way with a magnetic field? Sort of like a flying tokamak.
