Magnetic boots
Encyclopedia
Magnetic boots are boot
s that are magnetic
, which allows them to attach to the ferrous
floor or hulls
of a spacecraft
during weightlessness
, and presumably would allow someone to walk around the cabin
of a spacecraft, but they would still feel weightless.
works assume some type of artificial gravity
or use rotation
to "create" gravity, magnetic boots still feature for purposes of exterior repairs or in emergency
situations.
Magnetic boots were notably used in Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country to stage a surprise attack by disabling the artificial gravity on a ship and so providing a tactical
advantage to attackers wearing them. The investigation of who had access to magnetic boots featured prominently in the plot. Other Star Trek
depictions include Star Trek: First Contact
where the crew battle cyborgs on the hull of the ship and Star Trek: Enterprise
where they are used for hull repairs.
Such boots were featured in the Tintin
story Explorers on the Moon
, to prevent the characters from floating around in the cabin if the artificial gravity failed.
The Celestial Voyages historical science fiction series by Jeff Provine uses magnetic boots as the main sense of balance in its Edwardian starships.
In the Ratchet & Clank series, one of the gadgets is a pair of Magneboots, which are used to traverse special ventilation shafts in the first installment of the series Ratchet & Clank
.
Boot
A boot is a type of footwear but they are not shoes. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle and extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip. Most boots have a heel that is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the sole, even if the two are made of one piece....
s that are magnetic
Magnetism
Magnetism is a property of materials that respond at an atomic or subatomic level to an applied magnetic field. Ferromagnetism is the strongest and most familiar type of magnetism. It is responsible for the behavior of permanent magnets, which produce their own persistent magnetic fields, as well...
, which allows them to attach to the ferrous
Ferrous
Ferrous , in chemistry, indicates a divalent iron compound , as opposed to ferric, which indicates a trivalent iron compound ....
floor or hulls
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
of a spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
during weightlessness
Weightlessness
Weightlessness is the condition that exists for an object or person when they experience little or no acceleration except the acceleration that defines their inertial trajectory, or the trajectory of pure free-fall...
, and presumably would allow someone to walk around the cabin
Aircraft cabin
An aircraft cabin is the section of an aircraft in which passengers travel. At cruising altitudes of modern commercial aircraft the surrounding atmosphere is too thin to breathe without an oxygen mask, so cabins are pressurized at a higher pressure than ambient pressure at altitude.In commercial...
of a spacecraft, but they would still feel weightless.
Use by astronauts
Magnetic boots have not been used in actual space flight because of the potential for magnetic interference with navigation and communication systems.Use in science fiction
Although many science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
works assume some type of artificial gravity
Artificial gravity
Artificial gravity is the varying of apparent gravity via artificial means, particularly in space, but also on the Earth...
or use rotation
Rotation
A rotation is a circular movement of an object around a center of rotation. A three-dimensional object rotates always around an imaginary line called a rotation axis. If the axis is within the body, and passes through its center of mass the body is said to rotate upon itself, or spin. A rotation...
to "create" gravity, magnetic boots still feature for purposes of exterior repairs or in emergency
Emergency
An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or environment. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation, although in some situations, mitigation may not be possible and agencies may only be able to offer palliative...
situations.
Magnetic boots were notably used in Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country to stage a surprise attack by disabling the artificial gravity on a ship and so providing a tactical
Military tactics
Military tactics, the science and art of organizing an army or an air force, are the techniques for using weapons or military units in combination for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. Changes in philosophy and technology over time have been reflected in changes to military tactics. In...
advantage to attackers wearing them. The investigation of who had access to magnetic boots featured prominently in the plot. Other Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
depictions include Star Trek: First Contact
Star Trek: First Contact
Star Trek: First Contact is the eighth feature film in the Star Trek science fiction franchise, released in November 1996, by Paramount Pictures. First Contact is the first film in the franchise to feature no cast members from the original Star Trek television series of the 1960s...
where the crew battle cyborgs on the hull of the ship and Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
where they are used for hull repairs.
Such boots were featured in the Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin is a series of classic comic books created by Belgian artist , who wrote under the pen name of Hergé...
story Explorers on the Moon
Explorers on the Moon
Explorers on the Moon, published in 1954, is the seventeenth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums, written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero. Its original French title is On a marché sur la Lune...
, to prevent the characters from floating around in the cabin if the artificial gravity failed.
The Celestial Voyages historical science fiction series by Jeff Provine uses magnetic boots as the main sense of balance in its Edwardian starships.
In the Ratchet & Clank series, one of the gadgets is a pair of Magneboots, which are used to traverse special ventilation shafts in the first installment of the series Ratchet & Clank
Ratchet & Clank
Ratchet & Clank is a 3D platformer/shooter video game for the PlayStation 2, developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. Released in 2002, it is the first game in the Ratchet & Clank series....
.
External links
- PBS' History Detectives, Space Boots, 2010