Timeline for Space exploration without electronic devices, is it possible?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
11 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Aug 31, 2016 at 1:55 | comment | added | a4android | You only need to postulate that the antigravity field generates a low-level electromagnetic "chatter" or "static" random noise that is strong enough to disable solid-state integrated circuits which are effectively today's electronics. Old-fashioned electrical systems might not be affected (perhaps). This could still allow radio & radar, but with valve technology. The Russians used valve technology on the ri space missions. These days it's all solid-state integrated circuits. Arcs & short circuits are crude fudges, just raise the noise level & electronics fails. | |
| Aug 30, 2016 at 15:54 | comment | added | UIDAlexD | @celtschk True, but that's an insanely powerful magnet at extremely close range. Electronics are far, far more sensitive. | |
| Aug 30, 2016 at 15:51 | comment | added | UIDAlexD | @G.ogre All depends on the fiction you're trying to write. Maybe the arcs only happen in metal, or maybe they're minor enough that while they can cook electronics humans just get unpleasant static shocks while the drive is active. | |
| Aug 30, 2016 at 15:49 | comment | added | celtschk | @UIDAlexD: Well, it's not as if magnetic fields have no effects on the human brain. Indeed, magnetic fields are used to modify the activity of the brain. | |
| Aug 30, 2016 at 15:21 | comment | added | G.ogre | @UIDAlexD Can electronic devices be disabled/jammed/destroyed by other means than EMP? Does creating random electrical arcs kill human? | |
| Aug 30, 2016 at 15:11 | comment | added | UIDAlexD | @G.ogre That being said, if your drive has some other way of disabling electronics (Random electrical arcs inside the grav-field?) conventional EMP logic may not apply. | |
| Aug 30, 2016 at 15:03 | comment | added | UIDAlexD | @G.ogre A simple way to explain real-world EMP is that a rapidly changing magnetic field induces an electric current in metal objects. The sudden surge of current is lethal to modern electronics because their literally microscopic circuitry melts under the surge. It also doesn't matter if it's off - if the EMP is powerful or close enough, the induced current will still be enough to damage the circuitry. Since your grav-engine is inside the ship with the electronics, I believe that qualifies as "close enough." As for humans, our brains aren't made of metal, so we don't incur magnetic effects. | |
| Aug 30, 2016 at 14:58 | comment | added | JDługosz | That reminds me of the craft launched in the future framing story (and final novel) in The Queendom of Sol series. It was all manual and steampunk. | |
| Aug 30, 2016 at 14:57 | comment | added | G.ogre | About human brain, i assumed that EMP "fries" electronics but doesn't kill humans, or maybe i am wrong? If people are "fried" too that limits technology even further. | |
| Aug 30, 2016 at 14:54 | vote | accept | G.ogre | ||
| Aug 30, 2016 at 15:24 | |||||
| Aug 30, 2016 at 14:50 | history | answered | UIDAlexD | CC BY-SA 3.0 |