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  1. lnxw48a1 (lnxw48a1@nu.federati.net)'s status on Wednesday, 06-Dec-2023 04:36:52 EST lnxw48a1 lnxw48a1
    I wish I could find the book 📕 I read around 1974 where someone proposed a “doughnut” spacecraft in which a high powered magnetic field would compress hydrogen gas enough to cause fusion reactions and thus propel the ship at some fraction of the speed of light. It relied on interstellar hydrogen gas in order to work.

    I think their drawings depicted something like a gigantic ramjet engine, with crew quarters and ship control areas embedded inside the walls of the engine.

    Almost fifty years later, I would like to see whether the idea could still be viable.
    In conversation Wednesday, 06-Dec-2023 04:36:52 EST from nu.federati.net permalink
    1. GeniusMusing (geniusmusing@nu.federati.net)'s status on Wednesday, 06-Dec-2023 07:53:50 EST GeniusMusing GeniusMusing
      in reply to
      @lnxw48a1
      Could this be the author?
      It sounds very much like his work.

      Larry Niven Wikipedia
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Niven
      In conversation Wednesday, 06-Dec-2023 07:53:50 EST from nu.federati.net permalink

      Attachments

      1. Larry Niven - Wikipedia
    2. GeniusMusing (geniusmusing@nu.federati.net)'s status on Wednesday, 06-Dec-2023 08:32:02 EST GeniusMusing GeniusMusing
      in reply to
      @lnxw48a1
      I think this is the ramjet you are describing.

      Bussard ramjet Wikipedia
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bussard_ramjet

      If you want to see the math, check this site out.

      Nearlight Starships Atomic Rockets
      https://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/slowerlight3.php
      In conversation Wednesday, 06-Dec-2023 08:32:02 EST from nu.federati.net permalink

      Attachments

      1. Bussard ramjet - Wikipedia
      1. lnxw48a1 (lnxw48a1@nu.federati.net)'s status on Wednesday, 06-Dec-2023 15:32:53 EST lnxw48a1 lnxw48a1
        in reply to
        @geniusmusing That looks like it is what I remember.
        In conversation Wednesday, 06-Dec-2023 15:32:53 EST from nu.federati.net permalink
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