Submitted by Actual-Macaroon8240 t3_z3k0b7 in space
Routine_Shine_1921 t1_ixmr45e wrote
Reply to comment by fencethe900th in Space travel Shielding by Actual-Macaroon8240
I mention this in another comment. I was answer OPs question, where he went for actual shielding, as in passive shielding. Which is basically impossible.
If you're instead going for detecting and tracking debris, and then aiming a laser at it, it's a different story. It's equally hard, and basically impossible with current technology once you take into account the size and mass of such a laser and its power requirements.
The point is that, if you can do this, then you don't need shielding. Same about the "serious objects" you talk about. If you have detected debris large enough to be detected, enough time in advance to point a laser at it, then you've detected it enough time in advance to maneuver and avoid it entirely. Shielding is precisely about smaller objects that you don't know about until they hit you.
fencethe900th t1_ixn84jb wrote
Shifting a relatively small object with a laser is much easier than shifting an entire spaceship. Right now shielding is for small things, but not forever. Isaac Arthur has some really good videos dealing with this and other topics.
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