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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 the 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), in later incarnations the function of the shields appears to have changed to absorbing incoming fire from energy weapons (e.g. phasers) and it is suggested that technology has advanced to a point where standard hull plating protects inhabitants from dangers such as radiation.
• Star Wars: Deflectors are standard issue on most ships
• Warfront: Turning Point: Allied Jeeps have deflectors on them
• Super Smash Bros. series Move used by Fox McCloud

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