The "Project Orion" small fission bomb propulsion concept proposed the one-stage launching of large payloads into low Earth orbit, but it was abandoned because of the radioactive fallout into Earth's atmosphere. The idea is here revived by the replacement of the small fission bombs with pure deuterium-tritium fusion bombs, and the pusher plate of Project Orion with a large magnetic mirror. The ignition of the thermonuclear fusion reaction is done by the transient formation of keV super-explosives under the high pressure of a convergent shock wave launched into liquid hydrogen propellant by a conventional high explosive.
Thermonuclear Operation Space Lift
Journal of spacecraft and rockets ; 52 , 2
2015
Article (Journal)
English
Thermonuclear Operation Space Lift
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