The Starship Yendred
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Mass Deflectors Between stars, Starship Yendred achieves velocities up to .05 the speed of light (C). At this speed collisions with even specks of interstellar dust would be catastrophic. The mass deflectors are thin disks that ride ahead of the ship when its not accelerating with the fusion rockets. Mounted on the disks are sensors to detect oncoming matter and laser cannons to ionize this debris. A circle of super conducting wire around the perimeter of the disk generates a magnetic field which deflects the ions. The deflectors also have small chemical rockets which propel them from the ship after acceleration and bring them back to the ship just before deceleration starts. The chemical rocks are also station keeping devices. -

Living Room Garage Shaft Radiator Fins Fuel Tank Fusion Reactors & Rocket Engine

Spinning habitat provides enough gravity to keep earthly life forms healthy. Machine shop, mining equipment, scouting space craft, etc. Puts distance between living room and the fusion reactor which emits dangerous radiation. Dump heat generated by fusion reactor. A lot of fuel is needed to sustain the travelers for the centuries and perhaps even millennia between stars. Provide power for the travelers and rocket engine. Fusion is needed to get a high enough exhaust speed to achieve .05 C.

 

The starship is named for a 2-dimensional character from K. Dewdney's book The Planiverse. I am grateful to K. Dewdney for granting permission to use this image and name.

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