On 19/02/15 02:53, Mike Horvath wrote:
> I'm building a bubble around my spaceship to protect from "drag" at
> interstellar velocities. This site says that for subsonic craft a
> parabola is a better shape for the nose. However, an ogive is better at
> supersonic speeds.
> 
> http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/aerodynamics/q0151.shtml
> 
> Which applies in outer space? Or, should I not use either and use a
> teardrop shape instead?
> 
> And, is the piriform shape a good one to use? See here:
> 
>
http://csi.chemie.tu-darmstadt.de/ak/immel/script/redirect.cgi?filename=http://csi.chemie.tu-darmstadt.de/ak/immel/graphics/povray35/teardrop.html
> 

My immediate reaction is none of the above ;-)

We are not talking aerodynamics here - take a look at the ISS [pretty
picture here
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/03/nasa-iss-03-10-2011.jpg].
It is not travelling in interstellar space but neither is it travelling
in (what we define as) an atmosphere.

I would suggest that you concentrate on protecting your craft from
particles travelling with a relative kinetic energy large enough to
cause significant damage.

John
-- 
Protect the Earth
It was not given to you by your parents
You hold it in trust for your children

Post a reply to this message