User talk:Hephaestix/Project Hephaistos

This Book should explain the problems of interstellar voyaging, and compare different technologies. The focus should be on a mission with two key characteristics: Problems of the rocket equation, artificial ecology, sociology and material sciences will be discussed
 * Technology must already exist (no Warp-Drive, no Cryosleep, no Antimatter, no stored conscousness)
 * Ship must establish a human colony at the target system (no fly by, no star whisp)

Intent / Outline
Inspired by the book "Aurora" (K.S. Robinson), as well as the papers on Project Orion, Project Daedalus and Project Hyperion

A description of a "small" Generation Starship, as opposed to more grand designs ("Worldships").

Using only near future (<200 years) technology, i.e. more sophisticated versions of already existing technologies (which will probably lead to a kind of "Steampunk Starship", as conceptually new technologies cant be anticipated).

Mission Outline:
 * Nuclear Pulse Propulsion (aka. Project Orion), using thermonuclear explosions
 * Average Speed of 4-5% c
 * Mission duration (flight): 250 years (9-10 generations)
 * Population: between 200 and 1000, plus frozen embryos
 * Distance: 10-12ly
 * Fleet of several ships, possible unmanned fly-by missions as a precursor
 * Goal: NOT a habitable planet or Terraforming, but to build a space-based civilization in the target system.

The discussion should be restricted to one particular mission design (as long as the two key characteristics are maintained).

Ship-Design:
 * Pusher-Plate at the aft
 * Ressources and heavy machinery directly behind the pusher plate
 * A central spire ("keel") to the bow
 * A number of habitat rings around the spire
 * The habitat rings are connected to a central node, which can slide along the keel/spire, with electro magnetic breaks (as a dampener)
 * Deceleration at the target system via magnetic sail

considered problems:
 * Why?
 * Building in space, required industrial base
 * selection of target star
 * stars within reachable radius
 * known planets, but more importantly asteroid belts and small moons
 * The propulsion system (specific impulse, g-forces)
 * magnetic sail for deceleration
 * radiation
 * genetic radiation hardening
 * micro meteorites
 * dedection and avoidance
 * active counter measures
 * passive shielding
 * genetic diversity
 * semi-closed ecology
 * available surface area
 * comparison with small ecologies on earth (Oasis, Islands, Mountain Peaks)
 * cultural stability / ethics
 * maslow's hirarchy of needs
 * comparison with isolated comunities on earth (island inhabitants, amazonas tribes, valley dwellers)
 * social and cultural flexibility
 * Development after arrival
 * replenishing ressources
 * building up an industrial base
 * adding habitat rings
 * detaching habitat rings

145.53.237.167 (discuss) 10:45, 28 August 2022 (UTC)

145.53.237.167 (discuss) 12:41, 12 August 2022 (UTC)