Over the last forty years there has been continuous interest in both internal and external pulse propulsion systems. The nuclear devices being considered are now considerably smaller than those initially examined. Pellets are normally in the range from 15 cm down to 2 cm in diameter, and fusion is generally preferred. Detonation can occur using high energy density triggers such as lasers, particle beams or antiprotons. In inertial confinement fusion the energy can be provided using laser beams or particle beams. When antiprotons are considered it is more efficient to annihilate the antiprotons in a fissionable material, and then use the energy from the fission reaction to drive the fusion reaction in the pellet. Finally, it is also possible to include fissionable material that can boost the performance of a fusion system. The early concepts, which used critical mass devices, do not satisfy the ban on nuclear weapons in space, and are only rarely considered today. Concepts based on inertial confinement fusion are heavier than those that use antiprotons for the trigger due to the mass associated with the lasers, or particle beams and their power supplies. Hence, from a performance, and political, point of view the antiproton triggered approach is the most desirable, but it also requires more development. Propulsion systems based on critical mass devices are clearly feasible, so the primary problem is to reduce the size of the explosive devices so that a critical mass is not required. If pulse nuclear fusion propulsion can become a reality then the performance is enough to complete manned missions to the inner planets in weeks and the outer planets in months.
Nuclear pulse propulsion for interplanetary travel
Space Technology and Applications International Forum - 2001 ; 2001 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico
AIP Conference Proceedings ; 552 , 1 ; 881-885
2001-02-02
5 pages
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
Nuclear Pulse Propulsion for Interplanetary Travel
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