Comments on: Debunking Antimatter Rockets for Interstellar Travel https://lifeboat.com/blog/2012/10/debunking-antimatter-rockets-for-interstellar-travel Safeguarding Humanity Mon, 17 Apr 2017 05:27:34 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3 By: Tom Kerwick https://lifeboat.com/blog/2012/10/debunking-antimatter-rockets-for-interstellar-travel#comment-154871 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:12:59 +0000 http://lifeboat.com/blog/?p=5522#comment-154871 “Yes, we could do something in 200 years but that is not relveant for today, tomorrow or within the next few decades. ”

Then we are in agreement.

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By: Benjamin T. Solomon https://lifeboat.com/blog/2012/10/debunking-antimatter-rockets-for-interstellar-travel#comment-154822 Wed, 03 Oct 2012 22:48:40 +0000 http://lifeboat.com/blog/?p=5522#comment-154822 Tom Kerwick, you have a valid point, but I suspect that Carl Sagan was not even thinking of launching from Earth, but from space.

There many factors to be considered to make real engineering happen. 1) costs, 2) technological feasibility & 3) safety. And at least these three must be present before proceeding.

Right now 1) & 2) are the main reason for debunking anitmatter engines, because costs are on the order of $1E20, and per John Eades real world experience working with antimatter at CERN
http://lifeboat.com/blog/2012/08/new-findings-on-the-antimatter-drive
this is considered impossible for now.

Yes, we could do something in 200 years but that is not relveant for today, tomorrow or within the next few decades.

I cannot stress the importance of distinguishing between real world engineering feasibility and ‘theoretical’ engineering. One way is to ask the question, if you had a few millions dollars can you demonstrate experimental feasibility as a propulsion devices, in the next few years? If the answer is not yes, then we are dealing with ‘theoretical’ engineering, which looks really good on paper, gives you a really great feeling of achievement, but out of touch with reality.

Therefore debunked.

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By: Benjamin T. Solomon https://lifeboat.com/blog/2012/10/debunking-antimatter-rockets-for-interstellar-travel#comment-154820 Wed, 03 Oct 2012 22:38:13 +0000 http://lifeboat.com/blog/?p=5522#comment-154820 Jimmy Nolan, I cannot quite follow your numbers. Can you provide more explanations?

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By: Jimmy Nolan https://lifeboat.com/blog/2012/10/debunking-antimatter-rockets-for-interstellar-travel#comment-154803 Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:02:04 +0000 http://lifeboat.com/blog/?p=5522#comment-154803 matter-antimatter helium-3 p-B11
90000 TJ/kg 204 TJ/kg 66TJ/kg
$62.5trillion/gram $4000/gram $5/g

Most of the energy produced by antimatter is the form of neutrinos and gamma rays that are almost useless for energy generation and propulsion. On the other hand, most of the energy produced by aneutronic fusion is mainly in form of charged alpha particles that can be easily deflected/shielded by electric/magnetic fields and directly used for electricity generation and propulsion. Furthermore, antimatter is much harder to be obtained/produced and stored. In short, helium-3 and p-B11 are far cheaper and safer without the disadvantages of antimatter.

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By: Tom Kerwick https://lifeboat.com/blog/2012/10/debunking-antimatter-rockets-for-interstellar-travel#comment-154792 Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:06:13 +0000 http://lifeboat.com/blog/?p=5522#comment-154792 Benjamin — I feel it is more important to review the methods on which antimatter can be produced, and whether there is a feasible case to make this a less expensive process. As regards EJ Opik’s comment, I would suggest that such an antimatter drive would only be enabled after the initial launch once a safe distance from Earth, and alternative methods would be used for the initial launch of such a craft. So not necessarily debunked as yet…

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By: Benjamin T. Solomon https://lifeboat.com/blog/2012/10/debunking-antimatter-rockets-for-interstellar-travel#comment-154771 Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:46:52 +0000 http://lifeboat.com/blog/?p=5522#comment-154771 Jimmy Nolan, that is a good thought. And the video looks very nice. Now put some numbers to your statement, and lets see how things work out.

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By: Jimmy Nolan https://lifeboat.com/blog/2012/10/debunking-antimatter-rockets-for-interstellar-travel#comment-154769 Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:29:20 +0000 http://lifeboat.com/blog/?p=5522#comment-154769 I think aneutronic propulsion will be far cheaper and safer than antimatter. http://youtu.be/ro5-QYqqxzM

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By: Benjamin T. Solomon https://lifeboat.com/blog/2012/10/debunking-antimatter-rockets-for-interstellar-travel#comment-154753 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 18:26:56 +0000 http://lifeboat.com/blog/?p=5522#comment-154753 ab, I always enjoy a good dialog, but this obviously is not one of them. Let me explain.

The usage is per reported by the various authors. You need to click on the links and do your own research, if you are really interested in finding out more.

I’m doing quick and dirty calculation per NASA’s and others’ costs estimates. Antimatter engine fuel costs are on the order of $1E20. That is if you reduce the costs of antimater drives by a factor of a billion, the costs would still be on the order of $1E11, to make it comparable to the unrealistic costs of conventional rocket propulsion.

The primary objective of this exercuse is to determine whether anyone I would employ (should that day come) should waste their time, effort and talent exploring these engine designs. Obviously not.

At some point we have to draw the line between academic exercises (useful for understanding a theory or passing a test) and real world engineering feasible solutions.

That is why I term these types of explorations as ‘theoretical engineering’, they are fun to do, gives you a sense of accomplishment but out of touch with reality.

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By: ab https://lifeboat.com/blog/2012/10/debunking-antimatter-rockets-for-interstellar-travel#comment-154747 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 15:40:03 +0000 http://lifeboat.com/blog/?p=5522#comment-154747 and for which engine you figured out this cost?
i mean is it for 1)beam core engine
2) solid core
3) gas core
4) plasma core
and the min vel we will get if we develope beam core engine is .33c and max is .89%c.

i wanna know much about antimatter engine.
please give me whatever knowledge you have about antimatter propulsion

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