The VISTA spacecraft: Advantages of ICF (Inertial Confinement Fusion) for interplanetary fusion propulsion applications

Conference · Fri Oct 02 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6112845

Orth, C D; Klein, G; Sercel, J; Hoffman, N; Murray, K; Chang-Diaz, F

Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) is an attractive engine power source for interplanetary manned spacecraft, especially for near-term missions requiring minimum flight duration, because ICF has inherent high power-to-mass ratios and high specific impulses. We have developed a new vehicle concept called VISTA that uses ICF and is capable of round-trip manned missions to Mars in 100 days using A.D. 2020 technology. We describe VISTA's engine operation, discuss associated plasma issues, and describe the advantages of DT fuel for near-term applications. Although ICF is potentially superior to non-fusion technologies for near-term interplanetary transport, the performance capabilities of VISTA cannot be meaningfully compared with those of magnetic-fusion systems because of the lack of a comparable study of the magnetic-fusion systems. We urge that such a study be conducted.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA); Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA); Rockwell International Corp., Canoga Park, CA (USA). Energy Technology Engineering Center; National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Houston, TX (USA). Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6112845
• Report Number(s): UCRL-96676; CONF-871007-2; ON: DE88000417
• Resource Relation: Conference: 12. symposium on fusion engineering, Monterey, CA, USA, 12 Oct 1987; Other Information: Paper copy only, copy does not permit microfiche production
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
SPACE VEHICLES
DESIGN
DEUTERIUM
EFFICIENCY
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
LASER FUSION REACTORS
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
PELLET INJECTION
PLASMA
TRITIUM
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CONFINEMENT
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
RADIOISOTOPES
STABLE ISOTOPES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
VEHICLES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
700208* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Inertial Confinement Technology
320201 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Transportation- Air & Aerospace