All Questions
Tagged with spaceships space-combat
46
questions
3
votes
3
answers
164
views
How could a spacecraft defend against a train of small hypervelocity impactors?
Hypervelocity (30 km/s) impactors tend not to penetrate that deep, even though they can have an enormous amount of kinetic energy. The penetration depth can be approximated by $l_i \sqrt{\rho_i/\rho_a}...
- 8,315
16
votes
9
answers
3k
views
Realistic protection for spaceships against kinetic projectiles
With relatively current technology (i.e. no force shields, etc) what are ways to protect a spaceship (or at least mitigate the amount of damage) against hypervelocity kinetic projectiles? I'm a ...
- 161
2
votes
3
answers
206
views
How would a multipurpose railgun work
In my game, spaceships need to have weapons with more than one purpose, due to the cost of hauling extra weight across interplanetary/interstellar space. My railgun needs to be able to fire plasma ...
- 81
0
votes
2
answers
120
views
What would be the most effective shape for interlocking starfighters? [closed]
This is a question relating to my Safespace sci-fi setting, in which the Unified Intergalactic League attempts to keep peace between the litany of sapiods (a classification for intelligent creatures ...
- 903
7
votes
2
answers
394
views
Ideal materials for the outer layer of a whipple shield
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipple_shield
What I'm looking for is the best possible materials for the outer layer of a whipple shield. From what I understand, the outer layer turns a hypervelocity ...
- 697
28
votes
26
answers
6k
views
Why are my combat spacecraft crewed?
In my universe, humans are pretty good with AI and have some experience in space combat, as nations fought for resources.
Regarding the world, humanity remains in the solar system and is in space ...
- 2,478
4
votes
1
answer
90
views
Magnetic Flux Pinning Whipple Shields?
Would it be possible to have a collapsible whipple shields that can extend far out of a spaceship and be held in places with super conducting magnets? My rough idea is to be able to absorb more damage ...
- 831
5
votes
7
answers
2k
views
When are Turreted Railgun better than Spinally-Mounted Railguns?
When and why are spinally-mounted railguns superior to turreted railguns for space combat? Is it a power issues(longer barrels could probably be mounted spinally, and the longer barrels might allow ...
- 831
19
votes
9
answers
5k
views
How Does Orbital Warfare Work?
Let's say in the near future(so no fusion drives or anything exotic like that, VASIMR engines are the "best" engines placed on ships, not on expendable weapons), two space ships, armed with ...
- 831
13
votes
9
answers
2k
views
Single vs multi-person drop pods
Excluding teleportation, the most rapid way of delivering troops to an operation planeside is by dropping them out of orbit in a steel can. Whether a small QRF or a few thousand marines dropping in to ...
- 1,196
1
vote
1
answer
669
views
What would be a good engagement distance for space ships, assuming it took place in the sol system
(Edited due to oversights and ridiculous numbers)
So I was curious about this. I know similar questions have been asked but they all have specific parameters that are different from mine.
All ships ...
13
votes
16
answers
4k
views
How can gravity shielding be defeated?
In this science fiction universe, that has somewhat tough science in it, paragravity is an established technology that is used to its fullest potential. Which lies the problem where warfare is ...
- 4,971
3
votes
3
answers
485
views
In space is it better to use cannons instead of railguns?
A problem in space is a lot of the time heat dissipation. Another big problem is if you are set off course by the forces that the gun shooting inflicts on your spaceship.
For the same speed and ...
- 793
11
votes
2
answers
863
views
Is my space combat system realistic?
The Basics
There is no FTL.
Most spacecraft use He3-De fusion Torchdrives, capable of performing sustained multi-gee burns. Most torchdrives can also use fuel that is delivered by accelerators ...
- 17.1k
3
votes
4
answers
558
views
"Low" Efficiency High Power Fusion drives for weapons and "High Efficiency" lower power drives for ships?
I'm currently trying to develop 2 different "classes" of drives for space ship, Expanse style combat with "Low" Efficiency High Power Fusion drives for weapons and "High ...
- 831