AAWSAP DIRD, Aneutronic Fusion Propulsion I, November 2010

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heat and particles are collected by an electron beam generator that heats
hydrogen. The hydrogen is used as a propellant gas that is exhausted through a
Laval nozzle to generate thrust.
The Farnsworth-Hirsch Fusor is a proven technology that is used in tabletop
experiments to demonstrate nuclear fusion. This device is an example of inertial
electrostatic confinement (ICF) . Scaling this device up to production of ions for a
propulsion system is a major task for EMC2 and Dr. Bussard.
LH,
Propellant
Tank
Figure 11. QED Rocket Design by Dr. Robert Bussard and EMC2.
2. ESA Advanced Concepts Team
The European Space Agency (ESA), an international research consortium, has
assembled their Advanced Concepts Team (ACT) to develop space propulsion
systems based on nuclear fusion in open magnetic confinement. This system, an
example of magnetic confinement fusion, uses gas dynamic mirrors (GDM) to
constrain an ion plasma.
3. JPL, Rocketdyne, Rockwell
Design of an inertial confinement fusion source for manned missions to Mars was
conducted for this joint project where a magnetic thrust chamber was to be used
to minimize contact between the plasma and the walls of the thrust chamber.
With a 100-ton payload and a total vehicle launch mass of 6,000 tons, this
spacecraft would deliver manned missions to Mars in 100 days.
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