as one of those people, who spend their time much with technology of ship systems, hull plating and the engines, I contact you on behalf of the interest of the scout pilots, or simply called Light Fighters.
Due to decent amount of abilities that ship class can prove in terms of speed and agility, I have been researching to even increase those abilities, on costs of firepower and hardware slots on the ship itself.
The reason why I am contacting you now is pretty simple. By searching for improvement in terms of the above-mentioned factors, I believe, that it's quite possible to break through the 400 m/s barrier by just improving the fuel effectiveness, engine structures, as well as the same for the systems, which configure the ship engines.
And here comes the critical point. Basically, I do have some knowledge about fuel, engine systems and the engine structure. Although, those are limited and not skilled professionally at all. I am therefore contacting you! I would greatly pay anyone, who is willing to help me to find a solution about this matter. I don't think it's impossible to break the 400 m/s barrier. And I want to prove it!
**** Incoming Transmission ****
From: Francois LeBlanc, Aerospace Civiele, New Paris
To: Christine Colin
Subject: Speed limitations on small spacecraft
Madame Colin,
Allow me to introduce myself. Francois LeBlanc, one of the chief designers of Aerospace Civiele. We are a small company based on New Paris, who make specialty craft for select clientele. The problem you have decided to tackle, is one we are often asked about, when young, and wealthy Parisians wish for a craft to outrun their competition in the Provence asteroid fields. It is sad that so many of our good craft do not survive an unfortunate collision with those huge chunks of ice. Still, we can hardly be faulted for lack of pilot skill. But I digress.
The problem you seek to challenge is not in the engine design. At the speeds you are describing, the interstellar dust and solar winds become a serious problem. I am sure you are familiar with the principle - if you have ever tried to walk through water, you'd have noticed it becomes much harder, the faster you go. Space, not being a perfect vacuum, has a similar effect on spacecraft moving at high speeds.
Most lighter craft designed as racers or interception craft can partially overcome this by streamlining and minimizing their front profile - much like a raceboat on a planetary sea. But you can only go so far in this. Since an increase in speed exponentially increases the resistance on the vessels framework, interceptors carry specially reinforced frames to allow them to withstand the pressure of high cruise. At current speeds, the frameworks are at the limit of what they can endure. There are simply no materials that can withstand the compressive force of the bowshock above the 400m/s marker (disregarding tradelane velocity - but those lanes channel such particles so they do not pose a problem there).
A more potent fuel mixture is well within Gallia's capability. It may even be possible to augment the engines so that they don't tear themselves apart when this fuel is burned through them. However, finding materials that can resist hull stresses normally only observed in a singularity, may be the true challenge. Yet given the current state of affairs in our nation, it being at war, I do not think there is much call for a project as ambitious as this. Victory before luxury.
Still, if you do manage to succeed, I would welcome your insights on the matter!
Regards,
- Francois LeBlanc
**** Transmission Closed ****
Wide awake in a world that sleeps, enduring thoughts, enduring scenes. The knowledge of what is yet to come.
From a time when all seems lost, from a dead man to a world, without restraint, unafraid and free.
Mostly retired Discovery member. May still visit from time to time.
at first, thank you for your quick reply. I am aware of how hard it is to create something, that is rather not imaginable for us yet.
However, I am sure there are ways, especially for the plating part. As you know, the lately revealed Sirius sector gives the opportunity, that new kind of recources, metals for instance, and other material can be found, beyond the wall Sirius seems to build up by itself.
I've got a few ideas about ship designs, fuel and engines, as well as the hull plating, that would make an event like the travelling, faster than 400 m/s, possible.
So...uh...
*The young woman thought for a while*
For instance. If you imagine the ship of today, or...rather just the hull as the shell of a nut, you will soon realize, that its surface is imperfect. Little cracks weaken the shell as a whole by not working perfectly with each other. The atoms aren't aligned in an ideal order or pattern. If you now try to break the shell of the nut by focusing the force of a hammer onto one spot, the shell will break, since its atoms don't build it as a whole one. Disorder.
Now uh...at this point, there are very probably methods, to increase the stability of any kind of hull plating by just building a perfect nut shell. Without cracks.
The other possibility could be to find, as I said, new metals, which could be used for stronger hull plating.
However, if you wouldn't mind, I would like to make an appointment with you, Monsier LeBlanc, to talk about it further, if you are interested.
thank you too for the quick reply to my message. I have to thank you for your offer as well, but would like to continue working independently. I would, however, like to work with you, too. If you are interested we can make an appointment whenever you like.
**** Incoming Transmission ****
From: Francois LeBlanc, Aerospace Civiele, New Paris
To: Christine Colin
Subject: Speed limitations on small spacecraft
Madame Colin,
Mais bien, far be it from me not to invite an enthousiastic colleague, although I am not certain what would be accomplished by it. Your idea of extreme streamlining using an outer shell composed of a perfect atomic lattice is interesting - but such a lattice would be easily disrupted by collisions with small particles or microasteroids - which for spacecraft is common wear and tear. We toyed with that idea as well but quickly realised that in order for it to have any effect, such a lattice would need to be selfrepairing. I know of no materials which have self-regenerative capabilities -and- a perfect surface. And it would still not be a true solution, it would only streamline our ships fractionally more then they currently are. You'd gain at most a percent more speed with it in my estimates.
Non, I think if you are to crack this nut - or keep it intact rather - the outer shell is not the problem. It is the inner shell that bears the load - the ship's frame and joints. I truly feel if you wish for any meaningful gains, it is there they will need to be found.
Regards,
- Francois LeBlanc
**** Transmission Closed ****
Wide awake in a world that sleeps, enduring thoughts, enduring scenes. The knowledge of what is yet to come.
From a time when all seems lost, from a dead man to a world, without restraint, unafraid and free.
Mostly retired Discovery member. May still visit from time to time.
since we are already in the age of nano-technology, it could be done, to put some kind of nanobot, just specialized for this purpose, into the lattice 'windows', mounted on a thin skin, lying behind the atoms. With one of those nanobots in the lattice itself, powered seperately like a shield, it could work against the disintegration of the hull under very, -very- high pressure, by replicating and replacing the dissolving parts of the atom net by analyzing the hull material's components. That would make the actual replication process possible. Not even talking about the structure of the nanobot yet.
Well...uh. If you could call it a concept, the nanobots would be spread all over the hull, put in all those 'windows' and working as a network in the end, which could also ensure the rebuilding of the nanobots.
I've worked with many different kind of metals before, on which some improvements had to be done on the atomic base, like in this case.
About the inner core...I am not really sure about that either. It is commonly known, that ship's engines nowaydays are working under the simple form of kinetic energy, by burning fuel. Now! What about an entirely new principle? I've read about the theory of impulse generating engines...which would revolutionate -the- engine as well as the engine market.
It would be awesome, if we would go further into this. It's something everyone could use in the end, after all.
**** Incoming Transmission ****
From: Francois LeBlanc, Aerospace Civiele, New Paris
To: Christine Colin
Subject: Speed limitations on small spacecraft
Madame Colin,
For the purposes of maintaining an atomic lattice, the current nanobots simply do not react quickly enough to a breach. The lattice would need to be repaired almost instantaneously, something those microscopic robots are simply not capable of. They do not react fast enough. At the moment of the lattice breach, the uneven stress on the surface would cause microscopic tearing. Pushing the nanobots in the space between the lattice frames would simply cause them to be ejected into space as soon as the lattice fractures - there would be nothing for the nanobots to hold on to.
As for your engine suggestion, I am not quite sure I follow what you suggest. Propulsion is propulsion after all - the engine exerts a force on the craft, which causes it to move. Wether a chemical rocket, fusion torch, or even one of those extremely long burn ion flare drives which the Gallia herself had, the result is the same. It is all irrelevant regardless, the problem is not with the engine allowing the craft to go faster, but with the craft being torn apart by the interstellar medium at those speeds.
Regards,
- Francois LeBlanc
**** Transmission Closed ****
Wide awake in a world that sleeps, enduring thoughts, enduring scenes. The knowledge of what is yet to come.
From a time when all seems lost, from a dead man to a world, without restraint, unafraid and free.
Mostly retired Discovery member. May still visit from time to time.
thank you again for your reply and patience about this matter. There seem to be so many things, that can be done by just trying it! I also know, that you are probably a very busy man. However, I won't stop searching for something, that could let everything look like it's a valid proposal in this matter.
I am looking forward to your cooperation, once I got enough information!
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