| Revision as of 00:08, 13 December 2007 editPegship (talk | contribs)Administrators141,469 editsm sort← Previous edit | Revision as of 04:23, 24 December 2007 edit undoBryan Derksen (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users95,333 edits There are references. Also adding some further reading for future expansion (don't have these refs handy myself)Next edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Unreferenced|date=October 2007}} | |||
| A '''deflector shield''' is a form of ] intended to protect space travellers from charged particles that might otherwise pose cancer or genetic risks. | A '''deflector shield''' is a form of ] intended to protect space travellers from charged particles that might otherwise pose cancer or genetic risks. | ||
| Line 7: | Line 5: | ||
| Recently, though, groups have begun research on building actual deflector fields to protect ] astronauts travelling to the ] or ]. | Recently, though, groups have begun research on building actual deflector fields to protect ] astronauts travelling to the ] or ]. | ||
| A ] in ] group, lead by ], has been experimenting with using a bubble of charged plasma to surround a spacecraft, contained by a fine mesh of superconducting wire |
A ] in ] group, lead by ], has been experimenting with using a bubble of charged plasma to surround a spacecraft, contained by a fine mesh of superconducting wire.<ref>http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn9567-plasma-bubble-could-protect-astronauts-on-mars-trip.html</ref> | ||
| Likewise, ] is attempting to design an actual test satellite, which should orbit |
Likewise, ] is attempting to design an actual test satellite, which should orbit Earth with a charged plasma field around it.<ref>http://space.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn11623&feedId=online-news_rss20</ref> By the end of 2007, they hope to have tested the concept in a 4 meter-long ] chamber. | ||
| ==Popular Culture== | ==Popular Culture== | ||
| Line 17: | Line 15: | ||
| *]: Allied Jeeps have deflectors on them | *]: Allied Jeeps have deflectors on them | ||
| *] Move used by ] | *] Move used by ] | ||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| *D. Andrews, “Things To Do While Coasting Through Interstellar Space,” AIAA-2004-3706, 40th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, July 11-14, 2004. | |||
| * A.R. Martin, “Bombardment by Interstellar Material and Its Effects on the Vehicle,” Project Daedalus Final Report (Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, 1978): S116–S121. | |||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 04:23, 24 December 2007
A deflector shield is a form of energy shield intended to protect space travellers from charged particles that might otherwise pose cancer or genetic risks.
Initially, this was entirely a concept of speculation and fiction, as with the deflector dish used by Federation starships in the fictional Star Trek universe.
Recently, though, groups have begun research on building actual deflector fields to protect NASA astronauts travelling to the Moon or Mars.
A University of Washington in Seattle group, lead by John Slough, has been experimenting with using a bubble of charged plasma to surround a spacecraft, contained by a fine mesh of superconducting wire.
Likewise, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory is attempting to design an actual test satellite, which should orbit Earth with a charged plasma field around it. By the end of 2007, they hope to have tested the concept in a 4 meter-long vacuum chamber.
Popular Culture
- StarCraft/StarCraft II: Protoss have deflectors of concentrated psychic energy on absolutely everything. The Terran Science Vessel can project a "defensive matrix" on any unit, which negates all but the smallest bit of shrapnel, resulting in only one hitpoint lost per attack.
- Star Trek and spinoffs: Although the shields were initially portrayed as performing this function as an extension of existing scientific concepts, it is suggested in later incarnations that technology has advanced to a point where standard hull plating protects inhabitants from dangers such as radiation. Deflector shields remain standard for absorbing incoming fire from energy weapons such as phasers however.
- Star Wars: Deflectors are standard issue on most ships and perform a function similar to that of their Star Trek counterparts, although debate remains among fans as to whether Star Wars shields (designed to absorb laser fire) are comparable to Star Trek shields (where laser fire is described as harmless in comparison to that of a phaser).
- Warfront: Turning Point: Allied Jeeps have deflectors on them
- Super Smash Bros. series Move used by Fox McCloud
References
- http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn9567-plasma-bubble-could-protect-astronauts-on-mars-trip.html
- http://space.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn11623&feedId=online-news_rss20
Further reading
- D. Andrews, “Things To Do While Coasting Through Interstellar Space,” AIAA-2004-3706, 40th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, July 11-14, 2004.
- A.R. Martin, “Bombardment by Interstellar Material and Its Effects on the Vehicle,” Project Daedalus Final Report (Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, 1978): S116–S121.
 | This technology-related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |