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#276 2026-07-30 11:00:35
- tahanson43206
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Re: Void Postings
For Void re horizontal Spinlaunch: https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.ph … 17#p240617
Thank you for a truly astonishing invention.
The original SpinLaunch concept employed a vacuum chamber to avoid losses to the air during acceleration, and it had a vertical orientation to reduce the amount of air to be traversed on the way to orbit.
Your creativity has broken through the mental barriers that inhibit most other humans.
The horizontal version of SpinLaunch would indeed work well on the Moon or any other airless body.
It is entirely possible that Calliban may have suggested something like this, and there may be posts right here in the forum where a version of that idea is on offer, but your version of the idea is particularly timely.
I wonder how it would compare in difficulty to the traditional O'Neill type mass accelerator, or to simple chemical rockets, or to any of the other creative ideas humans have written down since the start of the Space Age.
I will add your vision to the appropriate topic as soon as I can figure out where it would best fit.
Good Coffee!
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#277 2026-07-31 06:19:47
- tahanson43206
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Re: Void Postings
For Void re slide concept for lunar launch: https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.ph … 31#p240631
Your picture of a slide that can be adjusted to various angles reminds me of a "rail gun".
A "rail gun" is a kind of slide. It is a remarkably simple device. If you ask CoPilot, it might be able to provide an interesting analysis.
The US Navy is one of several organizations that have experimented with rail guns.
The operating principle is magnetic force. If you ask CoPilot, it might be able to create an image showing how magnetic forces interact to move a cart along the rails.
If you ask CoPilot, it might be able to provide mathematics to show how such a device would work.
If you decide to venture in that direction, you will have to provide CoPilot with starting numbers.
I would offer one metric ton as the mass to be accelerated, and the escape velocity from the Moon as the desired velocity.
With those two numbers, CoPilot should be able to tell you how much electric current you need to provide to achieve the desired launch.
A rail gun depends upon capacitors to deliver power in the short time frame of a launch. CoPilot might even be able to calculate the size of the capacitors needed.
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#278 2026-08-01 09:10:55
- tahanson43206
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- Registered: 2018-04-27
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Re: Void Postings
For Void re SILOX post ... https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.ph … 57#p240657
Thanks for adding this research to the NewMars conversation.
It may be worth considering for it's own propulsion topic, at some point.
The detail that caught my eye is the abundance of Silicon and Oxygen in the solar system.
Preparing these materials for use is a non-trivial exercise.
A ship traveling about in the solar system with plans to use these elements for propulsion will need to carry along the chemical and physical processing facilities needed. However, such an exploration vessel would need to be able to isolate many more elements than those two. Perhaps at some point this forum will include someone with the education and interest and motivation and time and energy to contribute to a topic about how to fit out such a vessel.
Our members have contributed significantly to design of such a vessel. RobertDyck has led the way with Large Ship, and GW Johnson and kbd512 have been contributed extensively to the store of knowledge here.
As a general proposition, I offer a goal for those who might tackle this problem...
The exploration vessel should be able to collect and isolate every atom that is likely to be found in the Solar System.
I presume ( but do NOT ** know ** ) that every atom type can be isolated on Earth. in 2026.
After all, all elements in the Periodic Table have been isolated and measured at some point, but whether all the techniques still exist in 2026 is a question.
In any case, it seems to be an exploration vessel departing Earth for a tour of the Solar System needs to be able to isolate all atom types before it leaves it's berth or mooring cable.
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#279 2026-08-03 07:02:40
- tahanson43206
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Re: Void Postings
For Void re heat shield post ...
You are still updating your post in the heat shields topic, but even with the partial update, I can see you are on a promising track.
I am looking forward to seeing how you develop your ideas for a swappable heat shield.
In particular, a swappable heat shield for Starship would appear to be of great potential interest.
Combining robotic refurbishment of that swappable heat shield with the ability to swap heat shields at the launch/landing tower would yield a system that might function like an airline does today.
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#280 2026-08-04 07:20:33
- tahanson43206
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Re: Void Postings
For Void re SILOX ... https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.ph … 35#p240735
Your series on this important propulsion method is important for NewMars readers to follow.
My concern in writing to you is that you seem oblivious to the potential that exists if this propulsion method becomes wide spread.
The output of a SILOX engine appears to be nanoparticles of glass. The exterior of the Moon is already known to be covered with very fine pulverized particles. The nanoparticles of glass that would be produced by a SILOX engine would settle (slowly) on the surface of the Moon, except for those that might be swept into the Solar System by Solar wind.
Please consider asking your AI friend to "think" about the consequences if a thick layer of glass nanoparticles accumlates on the surface of the Moon. It seems to me inevitable that any machine (or human in a suit) that travels on the surface of the Moon will pick up significant accumulations of these nanoparticles along with the previously existing pulverized material.
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#281 2026-08-04 08:04:17
- tahanson43206
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Re: Void Postings
For Void re SILOX...
Please ask your AI friend if glass nanoparticles could be breathed in by humans and if they would cause disease in human lungs.
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#282 2026-08-04 11:19:57
- tahanson43206
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Re: Void Postings
For Void re SILOX ...
Please ask your AI friend if SILOX burns cleanly in an engine, or if it clings to the sides of the combustion chamber, the nozzle, and expansion bell, and quickly chokes them so they would cause the engine to explode.
Please provide citations of successful test burns by reputable organizations.
Please do not just repeat what you've already posted. Instead, please dig deeply to see if there are risks that are not revealed in the happy talk news releases. If SILOX is a worthy competitor in the propulsion game it will be able to stand up to intense questioning.
Please address the choking question specifically.
I would like to point out that GW Johnson is working on Mars Lander designs as we speak. He is having to deal with propellant issues, and your discovery of SILOX might be helpful, or it might be a complete dead end.
Update: For Void... while you're at it, please find out what the ISP of SILOX might be.
The silocon is carried in some sort of solid form. What is the volume of that form compared to other propellants that might be considered.
Are there other atoms involved? For example, is the matrix that holds the silicon made of another atom type?
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#283 2026-08-04 14:05:06
- tahanson43206
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Re: Void Postings
For Void re staying on topic ...
Who are you writing for?
If you are just writing for yourself, why not just write to yourself on your computer at home?
If you are writing for other people, would it help them if you stayed on topic?
There must be hundreds of posts in this forum about thermal heating.
If you never look at anyone else's posts, it is easy to imagine no one has written about those subjects.
You are welcome to use the search tool. If you can't find something, you can contact SpaceNut via the Housekeeping topic.
Your creativity is a great benefit of your participation in the forum. It may be that creativity and staying on a topic are incompatible.
I had hoped when you created a new topic about carbon wrapped electric motors you would stay on that topic and bring knowledge into the forum about carbon wrapped electric motors. If you do not intend to focus on anything, you could create a topic like "More Void Musings" and put everything you think of in there.
This forum is a presentation by the Mars Society to the whole world. The main Mars Society web site is professionally edited and very polished. This forum allows much more freedom, which you and our other members have enjoyed. It is very rare for you to have something pulled. What I'm interested in is trying to present a meaningful face to the world. Otherwise, this forum will remain a teeny tiny little gathering place for a very few human beings.
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#284 2026-08-04 18:48:37
- Void
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Re: Void Postings
(th) I created the topic. Don't you think I know what I intended to do with it?
Now I have been polite, and you have been insulting. My politeness is to accept your stipulations. I can do what needs to be done somewhere else.
When I indicated that you were confused about what I intended, you could have been nice about it and asked me to explain what I intended.
At the first I indicated that we could get rid of the topic if you liked, or move the materials somewhere else
I have been nothing but good about this and you seem to want to provoke me.
It's fine. Enjoy the topic do what you want with it.
Ending Pending 
Be careful what you wish for.
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#285 2026-08-04 19:23:13
- tahanson43206
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Re: Void Postings
For Void re 284...
Thank you for explaining your point of view.
I have no idea how to persuade you to write about what the topic you created says it is about. There should be no emotions involved. I found that at one time you were willing to consider staying on topic. Perhaps those days are past.
You offered what seemed to me to be a very promising topic about carbon wrapped motors. Any of our readers might suppose the topic would be about carbon wrapped motors.
I am disappointed if that is not what the topic will be about.
You have often referred to moderators and administrators doing one thing or another. We all take our cue from SpaceNut, and he has rarely intervened in the way you've invited us to do.
We depend upon you to make good decisions to benefit the community.
I'll say again... there should be no emotions in a simple situation like this.
If I had said nothing you would have continued branching the topic further and further away from carbon wrapped motors.
On SILOX ... GW has inquired about this topic and I have created a topic for it. If it interests you and if you have the time and energy to add a post or two to the new topic, please do so.
If this propulsion method seems useful GW might consider it for use in a Mars lander. Right now he is considering traditional self-igniting propellants. Perhaps this new propulsion method would be better than the traditional materials, for some situations.
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#286 2026-08-14 09:16:29
- tahanson43206
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Re: Void Postings
For Void re return of engines ...
In a recent post in August of 2026, your included this text:
The Engines could be packed into the Starfall Capsule, along with other valuable parts.
I see no particular reason that the Starfall capsule needs a Starship heat shield, just a ablative one would do.
In one of the links to NASA files about LOFTID, I found a reference to an idea of using the LOFTID shield to bring ULA engines back from orbit.
The LOFTID shield does NOT need ablative material or ceramic tiles.
I don't remember the details of the design of the material but I ** think ** the word ceramic fits in there but not as tiles. The shield is composed of multiple layers.
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#287 2026-08-14 19:43:14
- tahanson43206
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Re: Void Postings
For Void re electrons as mass for spacecraft propulsion...
Your report inspired me to wonder if the Moon has a net electric charge. Google Search seems to think it is electrically neutral.
what is the net electric charge of the Moon of Earth?
AI Overview
The Full Moon Has a Denser Electrified Atmosphere | National ...
Earth and Moon Once Shared a Magnetic Shield, Protecting ...
Full Moons Get Electrified by Earth's Magnetic "Tail ...
NASA Discovers a Long-Sought Global Electric Field on Earth ...The Earth's Moon has no measurable overall net electric charge. It is considered electrically neutral. However, its surface constantly interacts with space weather and sunlight, creating localized and changing electrostatic charges.
Quora
+2
As noted on Quora by a consensus of users, large celestial bodies maintain overall electrical neutrality because positive and negative charges balance out globally.www.pearson.com
+1
Surface Charging Factors
Daytime: Solar UV rays and X-rays knock electrons free from the lunar soil, leaving the sunlit side with a positive electrostatic charge.Quora
+1
Nighttime: Plasma and solar wind electrons hit the shadowed side, giving it a negative electrostatic charge.Nature
+1
Solar Storms: High-energy particles from the Sun or Earth's magnetotail can charge the surface up to several thousand volts of static electricity.Nature
Would you like to explore:
How lunar dust levitates because of these surface charges?
The risks of static electricity for moon bases and astronauts?
Once you reply, I will explain the physics behind that specific lunar phenomenon.
I wonder if protons might be sent out to push on a space craft along with electrons? If they can, then the two would get together and solve the charge problem. Plus, they would have more momentum to push on the space craft.
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#288 2026-08-17 17:24:29
- tahanson43206
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Re: Void Postings
For Void ... your idea / inquiry about sending microwave energy to the surface of Mars from aresynchronous orbit seems worth exploring a bit further, if you are willing. I discovered that Phobos is only good for solation about 38% of the time, since the moon orbits so close to Mars.
Perhaps a station at aresynchronous orbit will do better.
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#289 2026-08-23 15:42:22
- tahanson43206
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Re: Void Postings
For Void ... your announcement of discovery that Elon Musk may venture into health care is news that members of the forum, and more importantly, readers of the forum who are not members might like to hear more about.
If by chance you happen across anything more to share I hope you will have the time and energy to do so, in a topic that is more related to health care than the Chat category.
I am guessing that Elon sees an opportunity for AI to help humans monitor and perhaps to improve their own health.
Such advances might benefit animals as well as humans.
Rather than start a new topic, please take a moment to look to see if we already have a suitable topic.
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#290 2026-08-27 10:49:32
- tahanson43206
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Re: Void Postings
For Void .... your recent post (August 27, 2026) in the Louisiana topic seemed to suggest someone might decide to launch an expendable Starship.
You wouldn't come up with this idea on your own, out of thin air.
It must be based upon solid information you've collected.
Please add a few more details to this idea.
My understanding (based only upon news reports) is that Elon intends to discard ** nothing ** in building his business.
There may be good business reasons to launch more payload by omitting heat shield and other non-essential mass.
Please let us know what those reasons might be.
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#291 2026-08-27 11:45:50
- tahanson43206
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Re: Void Postings
For Void re follow up post about reusable vs expendable Starships ... thank you for the explanation.
It appears that NASA is willing to pay more for the hardware to gain speed for the mission tempo.
One detail caught my eye.... CoPilot appears to have become slightly confused ...
Faster turnaround: Without the need for refurbishment, tankers can be used for multiple missions in a row, speeding up propellant delivery to the depot.
I would imagine this is a magical tanker?
It can be expended and then magically reappear at the launch site?
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