Search found 69 matches

by Jeff Peachman
Fri Mar 06, 2009 6:23 pm
Forum: News
Topic: WB7.1 Contract Awarded March 3, 2009
Replies: 124
Views: 63202

More good news! I'm glad to hear this.

As for publicity, I'm continuing to tell all the engineers I know here at Michigan. But maybe I should start hitting all the blogs as well =)
by Jeff Peachman
Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:23 am
Forum: Design
Topic: Polywell for spacecraft
Replies: 44
Views: 32362

Well there will still be a nice big curve in your trajectory =)
by Jeff Peachman
Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:27 am
Forum: Design
Topic: Polywell for spacecraft
Replies: 44
Views: 32362

Re: Polywell for spacecraft

With an ARC/CSR hybrid with a maximal exaust velocity of 500 km/s and a mass ratio of 3.5 you will have a delta-v of 626 km/s. So you can accelerate up to 300 km/s, coast for 40 AU in 7.7 month, decelerate and use the rimanent 26 km/s to match the orbital velocity and dock. For your story, make sur...
by Jeff Peachman
Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:35 pm
Forum: General
Topic: WB-100 designs are being evaluated?
Replies: 69
Views: 29533

Personally, I mistrust the government more than I do one of our local sellers of used cars. When dealing with one of them, I KNOW her or she is out to screw me which, means that I am dealing with a known factor. The same cannot be said of our governors. Confronted with this situation it is necessar...
by Jeff Peachman
Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:20 pm
Forum: Implications
Topic: Oort cloud
Replies: 9
Views: 8407

Oort cloud

Random thoughts. It seems to me that fusion might be the only viable energy source if people ever venture into the Oort cloud. Kuiper belt objects wouldn't contain much in terms of fission fuel, I imagine. But it seems that with fusion it might be possible. Would we ever build on the surface of thes...
by Jeff Peachman
Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:12 pm
Forum: Theory
Topic: Undergrad Research
Replies: 15
Views: 11577

I'm also a senior (in aerospace engineering). I looked into doing some polywell related graduate work. I'm not sure its my thing just yet. I'm into applications more than pure research. But good luck in your work! I'm hoping to get my hands on a fusion propulsion device before I have to retire =)
by Jeff Peachman
Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:47 am
Forum: Implications
Topic: Useful service life for Polywell, esp. for rockets?
Replies: 11
Views: 9745

The whole thing is based on carefull control of electro magnets so you could set it up to essentially electroplate onto all the surfaces to whatever thickness you like. That's a creative idea. Now, I could be wrong because I'm an aerospace engineer, not electrical or chemical, but you would have to...
by Jeff Peachman
Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:21 am
Forum: News
Topic: Open Science Journals - Physics
Replies: 2
Views: 4806

Thanks. I get access to most journals when I go to the university library but its nice to know I'll have some alternatives when I graduate
by Jeff Peachman
Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:40 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Down side of electric cars?
Replies: 11
Views: 6227

or if EESTOR works
by Jeff Peachman
Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:31 am
Forum: News
Topic: "The verdict is positive"
Replies: 99
Views: 55571

woo-hoo!
by Jeff Peachman
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:24 am
Forum: General
Topic: Economic stimulus plan?
Replies: 28
Views: 12409

I just don't really like how the Ultra Rich can so easily pay less taxes than the average person (by percentage). http://www.theconglomerate.org/2008/01/whose-tax-plan.html You average person can't make a living off of capital gains, too much of their income is needed for their necessities to make t...
by Jeff Peachman
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:18 am
Forum: News
Topic: Good News on the DOD funding side
Replies: 9
Views: 12782

This reminds me of how a whole bunch of space exploration supporters spammed the voting page used for the CNN-YouTube Presidential debates during the primaries. The whole thing was organized by a space activist from Boeing. IIRC, space exploration topics were voted as about half of the top ten issue...
by Jeff Peachman
Mon Nov 24, 2008 5:51 pm
Forum: General
Topic: N.A.U.
Replies: 110
Views: 37131

He also gave us computers, jet engines, IRBMs and mature practical nuclear science, all in the space of 3 years. With all due respect, you really can't give Hitler credit for any of that. That's a testament to great German science and engineering. To his credit, he did electrify his people enough t...
by Jeff Peachman
Mon Nov 24, 2008 5:09 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Economic stimulus plan?
Replies: 28
Views: 12409

So if the refunds go to the poor, are they more or less likely to put all that money back into the economy?

And I don't see how the proposed spending crowds out the economy if the money is going towards projects like building roads which the government is meant to pay for anyways.
by Jeff Peachman
Mon Nov 24, 2008 3:57 am
Forum: General
Topic: Economic stimulus plan?
Replies: 28
Views: 12409

You could argue that world war II was a "public works" project, and the economy took off like crazy due to the war effort