Re: B5 and rotating sections

On 10-Jul-00 at 06:18, Steve Pugh (steve@wickedweb.co.uk) wrote:
> > Back on the topic of B5 and its rotating sections. Why use bearings
at
> > all? Why not use magnetic repulsion to turn to rotating section?
> 
> Conservation of momentum still applies. The other section of the 
> station would still rotate in the opposite direction.
> 
> For there to be a static section and a rotating section there must be 
> NO forces (and that precludes your suggestion of using magnetic 
> forces) at all between the two sections.
> 
> Having no physical contact and starting the rotation by firing 
> thrusters would work, but it would make getting from one section to 
> the other slightly tricky. And having two unconnected sections is a 
> hazard. If something collides with one section and pushes it onto the 
> other...

As happened in the pilot maybe?  That wasn't an impact, it was an
explosion, but it is the same idea.

Roger