The DERDS Plasma Shield
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:03 am
Well isn't this interesting. I read that Artemis called of testing this device and this if the first I've heard about a DERDS.
https://www.fiercesensors.com/sensors/n ... mis-flight
Too bad because it sounds really cool. Like deflector array on a Star Trek ship.
https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/KSC-TOPS-97
Deployed Electromagnetic Radiation Deflector Shield (KSC-TOPS-97)
Creating a Zone of Minimum Radiation and Magnetic/Plasma Effects for Spacecraft
Very short on details here. But this patent from 2017 goes much deeper.
https://patents.justia.com/patent/20180281995
I keep looking for pictures of this device, but so far not finding much besides abstract drawings.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US8740154B2/zh
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20060169489A1/en
https://eureka.patsnap.com/patent-US20180281995A1
"the generated magnetic field can capture some of this solar radiation as a plasma within the magnetic torus further impeding scientific data collection with its close position to the spacecraft."
You don't say!
Okay, after reading a bit more, this concept was not on Artemis afaict. They were just doing the usual thing like hiding behind a steel box for radiation protection. Darn.
https://www.fiercesensors.com/sensors/n ... mis-flight
Too bad because it sounds really cool. Like deflector array on a Star Trek ship.
https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/KSC-TOPS-97
Deployed Electromagnetic Radiation Deflector Shield (KSC-TOPS-97)
Creating a Zone of Minimum Radiation and Magnetic/Plasma Effects for Spacecraft
Very short on details here. But this patent from 2017 goes much deeper.
https://patents.justia.com/patent/20180281995
I keep looking for pictures of this device, but so far not finding much besides abstract drawings.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US8740154B2/zh
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20060169489A1/en
https://eureka.patsnap.com/patent-US20180281995A1
"the generated magnetic field can capture some of this solar radiation as a plasma within the magnetic torus further impeding scientific data collection with its close position to the spacecraft."
You don't say!
Okay, after reading a bit more, this concept was not on Artemis afaict. They were just doing the usual thing like hiding behind a steel box for radiation protection. Darn.