Laser-fusion rocket for interplanetary propulsion
A rocket powered by fusion microexplosions is well suited for quick interplanetary travel. Fusion pellets are sequentially injected into a magnetic thrust chamber. There, focused energy from a fusion Driver is used to implode and ignite them. Upon exploding, the plasma debris expands into the surrounding magnetic field and is redirected by it, producing thrust. This paper discusses the desired features and operation of the fusion pellet, its Driver, and magnetic thrust chamber. A rocket design is presented which uses slightly tritium-enriched deuterium as the fusion fuel, a high temperature KrF laser as the Driver, and a thrust chamber consisting of a single superconducting current loop protected from the pellet by a radiation shield. This rocket can be operated with a power-to-mass ratio of 110 W gm/sup -1/, which permits missions ranging from occasional 9 day VIP service to Mars, to routine 1 year, 1500 ton, Plutonian cargo runs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5619090
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-88857; CONF-8310171-1; ON: DE84001238
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 34. International Astronautical Federation conference, Budapest, Hungary, 10 Oct 1983; Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ROCKETS
PROPULSION
DESIGN
DEUTERIUM
LASER IMPLOSIONS
LASER TARGETS
THERMONUCLEAR FUELS
TRITIUM
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
FUELS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
IMPLOSIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
STABLE ISOTOPES
TARGETS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
700208* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Inertial Confinement Technology