A new inertial-electrostatic-fusion direct electric power source can be used to drive a relativistic e-beam to heat propellant. The resulting system is shown to yield specific impulse and thrust/mass ratio 2-3 orders of magnitude larger than from other advanced propulsion concepts. This QED system can be applied to aerospace vehicles from air-breathing to near-interstellar flight. Examples are given for Earth/Mars flight missions, that show transit times of 40 d with 20 percent payload in single-stage vehicles.
The QED engine spectrum - Fusion-electric propulsion for air-breathing to interstellar flight
AIAA, SAE, ASME, and ASEE, Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit ; 1993 ; Monterey, CA, United States
1993-06-01
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Inertial-Electrostatic-Fusion Propulsion Spectrum: Air-Breathing to Interstellar Flight
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