SpringShips
Interplanetary Spaceship Design
Practical design for a deep space, high speed interplanetary spaceship.
Introduction
A practical solution to the problems of long term, long distant voyages in space. To address the hazards of long trips in freefall by providing artificial gravity. To solve the problems faced by exposure to micrometeorites and suchlike projectiles, and the issues of radiation exposure from the sun.
This is the SpringShip.
Origins of SpringShips
A number of years ago I coined the term "spring" to refer to spinning rings in spaceships and stations, or any comparable spinning structure, cylinder, sphere, etc., to deal with the lack of gravity in space and its damage on the human body when removed from the stress and stimulus of living on planet Earth.
It's been known and accepted by engineers for decades that a simple way to simulate gravity in space was through centrifugal forces - spinning a drum, ring/wheel or disc to create the effect of gravity at its outer edge.
However, a problem I observed with some speculative ideas was the way the rings, or arms carrying rotating modules at their ends, were aligned on space - perpendicular to the axis of a ship in motion.
This presents the largest possible surface area exposed to the line of flight - exposing the frontal surface of such a ship to damage by micrometeorites, solar radiation or anything else flying around space.
To solve this I suggest in the SpringShip spaceship design that such rings be aligned horizontally to the axis of the ship (click illustration below right). By doing this you present the least surface area, the edge of the disc, to exposure.
Voyaging on The Plane of the Ecliptic
Most
interplanetary voyages will take place on the plane of the ecliptic - the
horizontal plane through our solar system on which the planets, asteroids,
etc., orbit around the Sun. Voyages between the planets
will occur on this plane and the horizontal alignment of the ship's rings
mean that only their edges are exposed to anything floating around or from
the Sun's radiation. You will not find much material coming in
to damage a ship from "above" or "below".
With only the edge being exposed to the worst potential for damage this is the only part of the ship needing strong shielding, and this reduces the amount of shielding needed for any voyages, relative to the size of the ship. Unless you're intending to travel very close to the Sun.
Next Generation Spaceship
The SpringShip is intended to be a ship for the solar generation. Taking mankind beyond the limits of our own planetary orbits out to the other planets, to the outer reaches of the solar system and beyond. The design, with its own artificial gravity, its shielding against damage and much more gives mankind the ability to travel far beyond our own world and embrace the universe of opportunity awaiting us.
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Up-date Notice: The Full Description has been up-dated in November 2011 with new Appendices on a range of additional features. If you downloaded earlier copies I suggest you update your records with this version as it now contains several pages of new thoughts and illustrations
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Acknowledgments: Vulcan photography in Woodford section, courtesy of Tim Bell