An assessment of fusion space propulsion concepts and desired operating parameters for fast solar system travel

Williams, Craig H.; Borowski, Stanley K.

doi:10.2514/6.1997-3074

Cited by 36 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 2 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…4 Nuclear fusion technology offers perhaps the greatest useful power out for high thrust/high I sp propulsion technology appropriate for interplanetary mission requirements. But fusion's range of α's for credible propulsion system designs (coupled to large M s ) are still generally too low for optimum IMLEO's of less than 1,000 mt.…”

Section: Sun Saturn Orbitmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1,4 The normally thought of conics of minimum energy trajectories followed by today's chemical systems degenerate into nearly straight line, radial transfers at these high acceleration levels with continuous thrust. A "field-free space" approximation can be invoked to greatly simplify the usually complex orbital mechanics.…”

Section: Mission Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consistent with the "top-down" requirementsdriven approach documented elsewhere 4 , the vehicle design was initiated by first establishing a simple set of mission requirements, then producing a consistent engineering design that satisfied those requirements. This meant that current state of the art systems, along with experimental results, were used as the basis for extrapolation to what could be technologically available to a human presence solar system-wide of the not too distant future-30 years from now.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Third: a conceptual vehicle design incorporating the proposed design philosophies and related results of a recent series of NASA Glenn (formerly Lewis) Research Center (GRC) papers was the next step in the process. 1,2,3,4,5,6 The findings of these earlier papers emphasized that for piloted, outer solar system missions expected within the 21 st century, adequate payload mass fraction (5% to 15%) and multi-month trip times would require specific impulses (I sp ) and specific powers (α) of 20,000 to 50,000 lb f sec/lb m and 5 to 50 kW/kg respectively 1,4,5,6 . It is the judgment of the authors that direct nuclear fusion space propulsion is the leading technology that can reasonably be expected to offer this capability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…), open magnetic (mirrors), and inertial concepts. Based in part on the results of previous studies 4,7 of the attributes and shortcomings of these reactor groups towards space propulsion, a closed magnetic system was chosen for this vehicle concept. The high power density achievable in closed systems, improved confinement, spin polarization of fuel, density and temperature profile peaking provided advantages in application towards space propulsion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Realizing "2001: A Space Odyssey": Piloted Spherical Torus Nuclear Fusion Propulsion

Williams

Dudzinski

Borowski

et al. 2002

Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Sun Saturn Orbitmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mission Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Realizing "2001: A Space Odyssey": Piloted Spherical Torus Nuclear Fusion Propulsion

Williams

Dudzinski

Borowski

et al. 2002

Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fusion Propulsion

Kammash

2010

Encyclopedia of Aerospace Engineering

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Next to antimatter annihilation reactions, fusion nuclear reactions produce more energy per unit mass than other energy sources considered suitable for space propulsion. The mass converted to energy in fusion reactions is almost an order of magnitude larger than that in fission reactions, and several orders of magnitude larger than chemical reactions. The fusion fuel, which can also serve as a propellant, must, however, be heated to very high temperatures, comparable to those inside the sun, in order to achieve ignition, and for the reactions to become self sustaining. At such temperatures the fusion fuel becomes ionized consisting of unbound, freely moving charged particles, namely electrons and ions often referred to as “plasma.” In order to produce energy exceeding that required to heat it to ignition, the plasma must be confined long enough to allow the ions to undergo fusion reactions. Such confinement is generally achieved in one of two ways, “magnetic” or “inertial.” Both of these approaches have been investigated for utilization in space propulsion. In what follows, the underlying principles of the use of fusion energy in space propulsion will be examined, and some representative concepts of both confinement approaches will be addressed.

show abstract