The PuFF (Pulsed Fission Fusion) project aims to revolutionize space travel through nuclear propulsion. PuFF will produce both high specific impulse (Isp 5,000-30,000 sec) and high thrust (10-100 kN), enabling quick (~1 month) transit times to Mars, the outer planets and exiting the solar system (~5 years). PuFF creates thrust by imploding a fission-fusion target using a Z-pinch. The process involves using the Lorentz (j×B) force to create gigapascal to terapascal pressures. Liquid lithium is injected in both a cylinder and cone. When the two connect, a circuit with a network of capacitors (referred to here as the pulser) is completed, and a 10-25 MA pulse flows down the lithium. The Z-pinch slams the lithium onto a fission-fusion target. The resulting compression (5-10 by volume) reaches super-criticality and explodes. The expanding plasma is then directed out of the back of the engine by a magnetic nozzle.


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    Titel :

    The Pulsed Fission-Fusion (PuFF) Engine: Development Status


    Beteiligte:
    Robert B Adams (Autor:in) / Magdalena Allen (Autor:in) / Augustin Demonceaux (Autor:in) / Glen Doughty (Autor:in) / Patrick Giddens (Autor:in) / Kimberly Gonzalez (Autor:in) / John Kuczek (Autor:in) / Kendall Lloyd (Autor:in) / Rosemary Williams (Autor:in) / Jason Cassibry (Autor:in)

    Kongress:

    AIAA ASCEND ; 2020 ; Virtual, US


    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Konferenz)


    Format :

    Keine Angabe


    Sprache :

    Englisch




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    Adams, Robert B. / Cassibry, Jason / Bradley, David et al. | NTRS | 2014


    The Pulsed Fission-Fusion (PuFF) Engine - Nacelle Concept and Development Roadmap

    Adams, Robert B. / Cassibry, Jason T. / Schillo, Kevin J. et al. | AIAA | 2020


    Pulsed Fission Fusion (PuFF) Propulsion System

    Cassibry, Jason / Adams, Robert B. / Doughty, Glen et al. | NTRS | 2018