Fusion propulsion study. Final report, September 1987-January 1989

Technical Report · Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:5117281

Haloulakos, V E; Bourque, R F

This study explored the potential of fusion propulsion for Air Force missions. Fusion fuels and existing confinement concepts were evaluated according to elaborate criteria. Two fuels (deuterium-tritium and deuterium-helium 3 (D-{sup 3}He)) were considered worthy of further consideration. D-{sup 3}He was selected as the most attractive for this Air Force study. The colliding translating compact-torus-confinement concept was evaluated in depth and found to possibly possess the low mass and compactness required. Another possible concept is inertial confinement with propellant surrounding the target. A key issue for any long-burn concept is propellant addition without interfering with the fusion burn. This is required to increase thrust and generate an optimum specific impulse for a given mission. A reusable orbit-transfer vehicle (ROTV) was identified as a mission and application where fusion propulsion can play a constructive role and is superior to both cryogenic-chemical-bipropellant and nuclear-fission propulsion systems. Numerous technical and technological problems were identified, and a development program is recommended.

• Research Organization: McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co., Huntington Beach, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5117281
• Report Number(s): AD-A-212935/1/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
COMPACT TORUS
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
THERMONUCLEAR FUELS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
MASS
OPTIMIZATION
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PROGRESS REPORT
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CONFINEMENT
DOCUMENT TYPES
FUELS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TORI
700205* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Fuel
Heating
& Injection Systems