I need help with something

[MrDiaz]

I have a theory.

And I will like takes on it, I am pretty sure I am not the only person that has thought of this so that is why I am putting it out there. I would like to see what people think about it and whether you think it is possible or not and why.
Okay here it is. This is about faster space travel, especially between here and mars, but we should try it first to the moon. Imagine in space that you have some big electromagnetic circles that act like satellites. We would be able to control these satellites via radio waves and electronic transmissions much like the current satellites we have orbiting around our planet. They would be equipped with thrusters in order to position the satellite in the exact spot we need them to be. Then we would need to have a spacecraft that would have to also have an electro-magnetic shell around it. It would take off from earth and go into orbit around it. Then when all the positions are lined up correctly, the shuttle can pass through these circular electro magnetic circles/satellites. As it passes through this satellite the ship would need to be going at a certain speed, flip a switch to activate the positive electro-magnetic shell. Before this is done the Satellite would need to also be informed, via transmission, to power up the negative magnetic force.
Now if this happens and everything goes as planned, could the ship not fly through the satellite and receive some kind of super boost that would propel it towards the previous selected destination without the use of excess fuel (because of the fact that there is no gravity in space once you are propelled at a certain speed, you wont stop until you hit something or are stopped.) And the way to be stopped is you would go through these same type of satellites that would be set up at the destination and the magnetic force would be adjusted to certain levels in order to come to a gradual stop.
Now I know that this isn’t completely thought through meaning that this is just a base theory, which is the reason I am posting this so I could get some more input and help with my theory. Please inform of my shortcomings on this theory, or if you have an idea that I could add to this theory in order to make it more realistic.

[MineralMan]

1. Theoretically, it could be possible. Practically, the problem of

powering your system is probably not solvable.

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. Kind of an orbital rail gun?

It seems feasible, but I can't see it as being something for initial exploration - rather for a fully developed transportation system. It seams to me that the start up expense would be close to prohibitive, and its greatest value would be in its ability to be reused once in place.

[mike_c]

3. ok, lots of places this could fall down, but here's one that seems obvious to me....

How will you anchor your driver vehicles in place? Remember, they don't simply act upon the traveling vehicle-- they all act on one another. The electromagnetic force that pulls the traveler toward each driver (or pushes it away, once it passes and the polarity reverses) is also experienced by the driver, which would be simultaneously pushed or pulled off station toward the traveling vehicle. That force would have to be balanced by propulsion if it wasn't soaked up by some massive hard-to-move object-- and the amount of propulsion would be (I think) just about exactly the amount needed to just travel from point to point under engine thrust.

[MrDiaz]

7. I see

But this is where the thrusters would come into play, once the ship leaves it will have plenty of time to be put back into the proper spot.

[mike_c]

11. thus losing half the force exerted against the traveling vehicle....

eom

[real_liberal]

4. Not really possible

Power would be a huge hurdle since magnetic fields a normal satellite would be able to produce wouldn’t really suffice (many run on power sources that wouldn’t power a home). In order to create any type of field strong (and large) enough to be felt, a ridiculous amount of energy would be needed.
Even if you figured out the power issues, Newtonian physics works against you. When one mass exerts a force on the other, an equal and opposite force is exerted on them both. So even if you were able to “pull” the spacecraft along, the satellite would be moved toward the spacecraft as well. So you’d then end up expending energy to reposition the satellites. The object with the smaller mass, most likely the satellite, would move more than the more massive object, however. This isn’t noticed as much with large object in space (moons, planets, etc) because of the sheer mass of those objects. So the net would be much more energy expended than simply adding more thrust to the spacecraft.
Just my $.02.

[ChrisBorg]

5. You have a 3rd law of motion problem.

[Pharaoh]

6. would not the circular

magnetic device be repelled in the opposite direction.

Interesting theory, the earth creates a huge magnetic field which extends into as does the sun and many other objects I imagine.

But I like the way your mind works and that you think about these things

:toast:

[MrDiaz]

8. You are right

This is one of the factors I did not include in my theory. I do appreciate your input though. I'm just trying to think how to take the next step in space travel, even though the thrusters would be able to counter some of the motion, I now think that would be useless considering the amount of energy being exerted.

[MrDiaz]

9. What if

somehow we attached it to the moon. And yes I know the financial impossibilty, but i'm just brainstorming.

[Pharaoh]

10. my previous post

I left out and meant to say, the earth sun and other planets/objects project huge magnetic fields well into space, so yes, I think they are a massive free untapped energy source. I think Nicola Tesla's work confirms that.

[txlibdem]

12. Ground based magnetic levitation (MagLev) is the answer

There is a group that worked out the math on using MagLev to boost a payload up to escape velocity.
The Launch Ring: A Magnetic Satellite Launch System http://www.launchpnt.com/portfolio/aerospace/satellite-launch-ring/
... refer to the 2nd photo, the launch vehicle loops around the MagLev circle as many times as necessary to bring it up to escape velocity and then it is redirected (magnetically) onto the launch track and off it goes.

This system would drastically reduce the cost of putting material into space ($750/lb versus $4,000/lb for a rocket) with a technology path toward $100/lb into orbit.

That's why I think your idea is a really good one. If you want the space-based version in the OP then you'll need a large mass object so the space craft isn't pushing the MagLev ring out of its assigned position by much. Maybe if the rings were inside of a medium-sized asteroid (with a drilled out tunnel going all the way through, sort of like an apple corer does). Then you could get massive amounts of acceleration and if the MagLev asteroid were positioned at one of the Earth-Moon Lagrange points it would be much easier to keep it in position. (can't get around the "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction bit so it would have to be repositioned occasionally but maybe solar sails could be used to accomplish that).

I don't know how the human body would fare under the acceleration g-forces that type of system would be able to create (limited only by the power source)... Navy deep sea divers breathe a liquid mixture which protects them from the pressure. Perhaps that could work for the astronauts as they say it will allow them to take up to 20 g's of acceleration -- fighter pilots pass out around 5 g's, normal people around 3 g's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_breathing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_breathing#Space_travel
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/latest-questions/question/2204/

/edit to add: Yes, you could build one on the moon. Or several. With far less gravity the escape velocity would be lower than such a system on the Earth. And since it's feasible on Earth it would definitely work on the moon. Just need enough power at the site.