• Jaytreeman
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    21 year ago

    You can make a radiation field by running a large motor that would save you from the solar radiation.
    In space you always have access to the sun. A cheap form of power. You need a lot more batteries if you’re on the planet.

    Venus is a much better idea over mars.

    • @Urist@lemmy.ml
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      31 year ago

      Didn’t know that it was feasible to create a radiation field by running a large motor. Not that I doubt you, but if you have a source I would be very happy to read more about it.

      • Jaytreeman
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        21 year ago

        I heard about it on one of Isaac Arthur’s videos. I can’t remember which one, but the analogy he used was that earth’s magnetosphere is essentially a big motor created by earth’s metal core spinning. (Oversimplified) So you should be able to build a motor that would shield a station

        • R0cket_M00se
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          31 year ago

          Sure, and theoretically we could do a lot of shit. Isaac Arthur isnt a scientist he’s a edutainment YouTuber.

          Creating our own magnetosphere is a little more complex or we’d have already done it, plus what happens if it fails? Where’s your backup? You just gonna die when it shuts down?

          • @Zoboomafoo@lemmy.world
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            11 year ago

            Creating our own magnetosphere is a little more complex or we’d have already done it

            There hasn’t been a need for it until now, thats like expecting people to invent parachutes before aircraft

            • R0cket_M00se
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              11 year ago

              We’ve been to space and understood radiation for decades, we’ve known that any potential lunar colony would need radiation shielding for long term habitation and Mars as well, which as a nation we’ve planned on going to since the Apollo program was still flying.

              You’re making a false equivalency here, the aircraft has been around for decades we just don’t have the financial backing in our space program to actually develop the technology. However, I can guarantee you that it’s not as simple as “just make a big electric motor!” Or some enthusiast would have already done it.