[TML] [Merchant Shipping] Some ideas I came up with tomakemerchant shipping more interesing

[Timothy Little]

On Thu, Apr 17, 2008 at 08:32:09PM -0400, Richard Aiken wrote:
> Uh huh.  But . . . if you're scoping hydrogen in the gas giant's upper
> atmosphere, can you run your "charged particle deflection shield" at
> the same time?  Wouldn't you be stopping the intake of the very
> substance you're trying to get ahold of?

You're more likely interested in scooping neutral particles -
uncharged molecules of hydrogen, rather than ionised protons and
electrons.  A strong magnetic field won't affect them to a significant
degree.


> And even so, it's only done if you can't afford the time/fuel
> necessary to find a nice, cool ice ball somewhere.

Yes, there could be a tricky decision if your ships are radiation
death-traps, there are gas giants nearby that don't have icy moons,
and you can't get some from a port.

I'm pretty sure every system will have a vast number of nice cool ice
balls in the outer system.  It's just a question of whether you can
afford to take the time to get to them.

Even Mars should suffice for refuelling.  Sure it's a cold dusty
rockball, but it's a cold dusty rockball with lots of ice very close
to the surface in many locations.


- Tim