A deployable high temperature superconducting coil (DHTSC): a novel concept for producing magnetic shields against both solar flare and galactic radiation during manned interplanetary missions
The discovery of materials which are superconducting above 100 K makes possible the use of superconducting coils deployed beyond the hull of an interplanetary spacecraft to produce a magnetic shield capable of giving protection not only against solar flare radiation, but also even against galactic radiation. Such deployed coils can be of very large size and can thus achieve the great magnetic moments required using only relatively low currents. Previous magnetic shield designs used ship-board coils cooled by liquid helium and carrying hundreds of millions of amperes even for protection against only solar flare radiation. Such ship-board coils require a large structural mass to restrain the magnetic forces and to provide alternate conduction paths in the event of a loss of superconductivity and consequently give but little advantage over passive, mass shields. Deployable high temperature superconducting coil (DHTSC) magnetic shields in contrast appear to offer very substantial reductions in mass and energy compared to other concepts because of an enormously reduced current requirement and could readily provide the effective radiation protection that will be needed for a Mars mission and eventually for space colonies
