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First Exotic Space Thruster Test Ends in Explosion
KentuckyFC writes "A NASA-funded test of an entirely new way to control orbiting satellites has ended with the prototype arcing dangerously and parts of the machine exploding. The new propulsion system is based on the Lorentz force: that a charged particle moving through a magnetic field experiences a force perpendicular to both its velocity and the field. So the plan is to ensure that a satellite passing though the Earth's magnetic field is electrically charged so as to generate a force that can be used to steer the spacecraft. The advantage of the idea is that it requires no propellant, which is a big deal since most satellites' lifespans are limited by the amount of fuel they can carry. But the first ground-based tests haven't gone entirely to plan."
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But we can be treated equal.
From TFA: And as long as nobody gets hurt, a decent explosion livens up any experiment.
I'm pretty certain this is how Mythbusters got started.
Also from TFA: Obviously, a proplusion system that explodes while it is in operation needs some more work.
I dunno, kinda sounds like how rockets work.
I'd be concerned if I tested my exotic thruster and it didn't end in an explosion.
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My brain initially processed the title as, "First Erotic Space Thruster Test Ends in Explosion". Needless to say I was very disappointed when I read the summary.
Developers: We can use your help.
A NASA-funded test of an entirely new way to explode orbiting satellites has ended with promising success!
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Oh sure, it doesn't sound that impressive until you realize the entire craft was covered in a 2-foot layer of solder.
Sure, you got the basic points all right. Now, let's see some advanced stuff:
It should go like this
NOT like this.
So I'm glad I got burned think of all the things we learned
For the people who are still alive
More Twoson than Cupertino
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Ya, but you might want to use protection or you'll get burned.
From old age or the beer?
Hell, it's not even safe to treat the individual editors as coherent...
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Maybe they meant from the delivery process. "Breaker, breaker, where are you Bandit? I got a smokey on my tail." Not being "legal" in many states added to its "exotic" flavor causing some excitement regarding the "Colorado Coolaid". Han and Luke, Bandit and Snowman, it can be good having a smugler covering your backside, but if you were either you were in danger. Of course if all you did was help drink it at the frat party or at the drivein, the danger lessens.
One would think that NASA engineers had watched enough Star Trek to realize that if one does not reverse the polarity of the intermix injectors into the flow matrix before the plasma coolant leaks after a power surge then the warp core will breach...amateurs.
Maybe "someone" (*COUGHyou) shouldn't be drying their special 'shrooms at work, eh?
Point taken and considered while I was typing it, but just between you and me, I was going for entertainment value.
Ah yes. These comments conjure up fond memories of when, as a curious child I began mixing various chemicals from my chemistry set...along with some additional ingredients from under the kitchen sink in a tightly sealed container. When the container began to bulge and heat up it was at this precise moment I suddenly realised the inherent danger of uncontrolled chemical experimentation. My Mother still recalls my excitement as I ran up the stairs shouting, "It's gonna blow!"
Apparently, you've tried hard enough to find it.