All Questions
Tagged with spaceships technology
98
questions
6
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Possibility of solar powered space stations around a red dwarf
I have an earth-like world orbiting an M7 red dwarf on the outer edge of the habitable zone(0.0443AU). Since red dwarfs emit more infrared light than visible light, solar panels would probably not be ...
- 154
11
votes
10
answers
3k
views
Engines capable of surviving a highly destructive space battle
Context: It is set 50 000 years from "now" in no-FTL interstellar setting. The idea is that active defences and armor of spacecrafts have obscenely advanced to the point that any projectile ...
- 483
4
votes
6
answers
381
views
Alternatives to electricity for energy distribution in a spaceship?
Basically, I want the aesthetics of "EPS conduits" without the soft-sci-fi handwaving of actual Star-Trekian EPS conduits. Is there some system for distributing large amounts of power around ...
- 42.4k
16
votes
13
answers
3k
views
Is a "20th century" spacefaring civilization plausible?
This civilization has computational technology roughly equivalent to Earth's in the late 20th century. We're talking post-moon landing, but pre-Internet (roughly 1969-1983). They may or may not have ...
- 956
6
votes
12
answers
3k
views
What is the best design for trans-atmospheric cargo ship?
Backdrop
This is set in a world after an empire-state that controlled the entire solar system fell. They have incredibly efficient catalyzed direct fusion drives, which powers the heavy mining and ...
- 1,994
2
votes
1
answer
150
views
Maximum speed of 100% reflective light sails
So, it’s the 23rd century, and due to the cost of fuel these days, people are exploring new methods of interplanetary travel that does not require reaction mass. Light sails spring to mind.
Modern ...
- 8,651
6
votes
2
answers
186
views
Is it radio silence between 2 Alcubierre drives?
Suppose we grant a 1 time scientific miracle for exotic matter to power Alcubierra wrap drive, then could two such drives communicate with each other? The drive discharges exotic matter particles ...
- 48k
7
votes
14
answers
3k
views
What is the purpose of using tractor beam when there is a teleporting device onboard?
In many sci-fi movie tropes, we see gigantic spaceship using tractor beam to reel in smaller spacecraft. Usually in every scenario that is being played out the smaller spacecraft is trying to flee ...
- 48k
-1
votes
5
answers
307
views
Maintaining an advantage in a world of infinite acceleration capabilites
Technical
Suppose that someone showed up very few years ago and started selling out spaceships ships are capable of arbitrarily high acceleration, the drive is integral to the hull and moves the whole ...
- 11.6k
3
votes
7
answers
1k
views
Maintaining an advantage in a world of reactionless drives [closed]
Suppose, because I can't be bothered explaining the exact setting, that someone showed up tomorrow and started handing out spaceships with reactionless drives to anyone who asked for them. These ships ...
- 46.4k
-4
votes
7
answers
767
views
Hard Sci-Fi hardlight-based "energy shield" [duplicate]
I'm making a fairly hard Sci-Fi story, and I was wondering what the most scientifically plausible Hardlight-based 'energy-shield' (for ships and stations) would be. My world tries to remain true to ...
- 284
2
votes
5
answers
724
views
Black hole minefields
A civilization has developed black hole guns and Hawking Radiation stabilizers while warring with other civilizations in their stellar neighborhood. Currently, they can create black holes up to 1000 ...
- 1,009
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
0
votes
1
answer
139
views
Can cold thrusters be improved for work in space
This belter got Mr.X thinking and it is a stroke of genius this time.
What do we do with all that oxygen we get when extracting metals from their oxides? we liquify and use them as a reactive mass of ...
- 6,491
43
votes
21
answers
7k
views
Why are certain spaceships capable of warp at a moment's notice while others require some preparations?
After seeing an advert on my holo-watch about the latest fleet of interstellar spaceships capable of going into warp at the press of a button, I was both amazed and dumbfounded by it
Conventional warp ...
- 48k