It doesn't really sound all that likely. the reflection bit is irrelevant unless someone doesn't know how to direct their lasers... Of course, with lots of faceted surfaces it might be useful, but ice won't form that way naturally, it would have to be carefully calculated. Also, a direct hit would direct the energy into the ice... and eventual chaff would quickly be dispersed in the path of the laser. There are better materials for laser dispersal than ice. And honestly - when you build a spacecraft, the fact that ice is cheaper is not a major factor. Weight factors in too, I believe. You'd need a good thick coat of ice to make it useful, and then propulsion would be a problem. You'd have to calculate the trade-off.
Of course, laser weapons in space seems like a bad idea to me anyway. Or for that matter, most weapons. better to use the energy for propulsion.
Of course, laser weapons in space seems like a bad idea to me anyway. Or for that matter, most weapons. better to use the energy for propulsion.
"People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realize how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world" - Calvin.
anyone seen ice used as shielding for ships in SF
19/10/2009 04:35:45 PM
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I think this is in THE SONGS OF DISTANT EARTH by Arthur C. Clarke
19/10/2009 05:20:24 PM
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It does sound like the kind of brilliant-yet-obvious idea Clarke would have.
19/10/2009 05:31:23 PM
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Found the story. There is an ice-shield, but it's for space dust, not lasers. *NM*
19/10/2009 11:47:33 PM
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Ice shielding against lasers?
19/10/2009 07:28:51 PM
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It wouldn't reflect, but it would significantly diffract... *NM*
19/10/2009 09:25:16 PM
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Perhaps...
20/10/2009 08:31:08 AM
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in Shepherd's novels they do burn thru the ice quickly, thus the ships spin *NM*
20/10/2009 05:18:53 PM
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Re: Ice shielding against lasers?
20/10/2009 03:39:25 AM
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