plasma shields in the making :)

[digdug]

Plasma shields might be a reality for spaceships. Spacetravel exposes astronauts to high level of radiation (such as protons in solar wind), that is normally deflected by Earth magnetic field and atmosphere.
So, to protect astronauts, we could surround the ships with a bubble of plasma and deflect those nasty charged particles

Article not very recent (sorry about that)
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9 ... -trip.html

Also, you might be interested to know that plasma can be used to make windows, a plasma window can be passed through by solid objects and light, but it can effectively form a barrier to keep, let's say the atmosphere of your spaceship on one side and the vacuum of space on the other. Translated: Star Trek-type force fields !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_window

[KA101]

Interesting, though the temperature involved seems like it would roast & toast* any, say, shuttlecraft passing through. Other than that detail, yeah, sounds nifty. Now to obtain the energy required.

*Guess whence I lifted that phrase, win the proverbial cookie!

[Cygnus.X1]

*Guess whence I lifted that phrase, win the proverbial cookie!

I cheated
http://bit.ly/VEehxO

[KA101]

Afraid that's not it. Keep thinking.

[erik dela cruz]

I've had a short discussion with someone here sometime ago about plasma engines....now plasma shields. wow.