Long-term robotic probe or manned human space flight will require special strategies, to prevent electronic equipment failures or health risks. New materials will be needed to wrap a safety factor around the capsule or probe. New innovative power and propulsion systems will be needed for unlimited durations, something that we still have not completely perfected.
One interesting proposal set forth by the online think tank is to have multiple layers of carbon nano-tube construction with copper atoms that bounce inside the nano-tubes, a few layers back. These bouncing copper atoms will provide electricity to run the systems, as well as become a radiation barrier to prevent the harm to human health or organic sustainable systems. It would also prevent damage to electronic equipment, while providing energy that would normally be wasted and unused.
How close is such technology to becoming a reality? Well, the technology is here, but the cost is very high and therefore it will take a while until mass production can be attained at a cost that is realistic to building large quantities of material needed to see such a concept to fruition. If we are to send humans into space for long-periods of time, perhaps in excess of their lifetimes, then we must consider future technologies which will allow for this.
Experimenting with carbon nano-tube technologies in material sciences makes sense and the potentiality for transfer technologies clearly justifies the cost, even if such strategies are never used in space or leap-frogged by the next newest thing in the future. Think on this.
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow
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