Star Trek shields will protect Man in space

Timesonline ^ | April 18, 2007 | Mark Henderson, Science Editor

[Nachum]

For Captain Kirk and his crew, the starship Enterprise’s force fields were all that stood in the way of oblivion from Klingon lasers. Now scientists are seeking to build Star Trek-style shields for real, to protect astronauts on their way to Mars.

Though a manned mission to the Red Planet could probably expect to avoid any unpleasant alien encounters, researchers believe that magnetic fields could be crucial to shelter its crew from deadly radiation.

Cosmic rays and solar flares are one of the chief hazards faced by astronauts venturing into space, and the need to protect crews against them is one of the biggest obstacles to long missions.

On the surface of the Earth, the magnetic field that envelops our planet deflects most of this radiation, and even in the low orbits used by the space shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS) it offers a measure of protection.

[Nachum]

Science fact

— Ion engines Nasa’s Deep Space 1 comet chaser, and the European Space Agency’s Smart1 probe, have ion engines. Charged atoms are fired into space at about 1,000mph (1,600km/h), building up to propel the craft at up to 36,000mph

— Artificial eyes Scientists at the University of Southern California have created a “bionic eye” that has already been fitted to six blind patients

— Cloaking devices Scientists at Imperial College London have shown that it is theoretically possible to create materials that bend light so that they appear invisible

[SevenofNine]

OH MAN that be soo cooll

[SteveMcKing]

And the energy will come by magic!

[Army Air Corps]

Scotty will solve that problem.

[Thunder90]

PING!!!

[TBP]

To boldly go where no man has gone before...

[ASOC]

Tsk (rolls eyes)

Dude, Klingons had DISruptors (done in Valley Girl accent) and the Enterprise has, like Phasers......

Dude, you like *so* need to pay attention to the science......(shuffles off)

[BigCinBigD]

One day man will sail the gulf between the stars as we today sail the seas.

[elmer fudd]

And the energy will come by magic!

Like duh!!! That's what dilithium crystals are for.

[isom35]

has anyone built a Doomsday Machine yet? that would rule...

[garjog]

soo cool”

Instead of sequels, why doesn’t Hollywood make some sci fi films about manned travel to Mars (with out slasher killings or ghosts). You know, realistic. That would be cool.

[hosepipe]

Need a fusion reactor first..

[hosepipe]

[ has anyone built a Doomsday Machine yet? that would rule... ]

So far all they have is a DUMBsday MACHINE.. it provides power to the democrat party..

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Can they produce a magnetic field strong and big enough the cover the entire ship for the duration of a trip to Mars?

[Freeport]

The field probably isn’t that big a problem. Powering a coil, that doesn’t interfere with comm’s, or the weight of large permanent rare-earth magnets would be.

As with most things, power’s the issue.

[Oberon]

Can they produce a magnetic field strong and big enough the cover the entire ship for the duration of a trip to Mars?

Don't have to cover the entire ship...just the part where the crew is.

[Sensei Ern]

"TWO WEEKS!"

[Sensei Ern]

The difficulty would be that a real life trip to Mars would be boring to most.

Without events, it would be Apollo 13 without, “Houston, we have a problem.”

[KevinDavis]

[Grizzled Bear]

Just don’t build a holographic chamber (ST-TNG)! It’s hard enough getting the Airman to put down their cell phones and get to work! I can’t imagine what it would be like trying to drag them out of their “fantasy lands!”

But then again; the creepy ones would probably go in and never come out...