AAWSAP DIRD, Aneutronic Fusion Propulsion I, November 2010

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Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................v
Chapter 1: Theory ................................................................................................. 1
Rocket Propulsion .............................................................................................. 1
Comparison of Specific Impulse for Various Rocket Designs .............................. 5
Radiation Shielding ............................................................................................ 6
Subatomic Particle Mass, Velocity, and Energy .................................................. 9
Nuclear Fission Rockets .......................................................................................................................... 10
Chapter 2: Nuclear Fusion Rocket Design ............................................................ 13
Classic Nuclear Fusion Schemes ....................................................................... 13
Fusion Initiation Methods................................................................................. 14
Gravitational Confinement ............................................................................... 16
Magnetic Confinement Fusion (MCF) ................................................................ 16
Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) ................................................................... 16
Muon-Catalyzed Fusion .................................................................................... 17
Cavitation (Bubble) Fusion ............................................................................... 17
Rocket Design Using Fusion Energy ................................................................. 17
Chapter 3: Aneutronic Nuclear Fusion Schemes .................................................. 18
Chapter 4: Antimatter Propulsion ........................................................................ 20
Chapter 5: Aneutronic Fusion Propulsion Projects............................................... 21
Nuclear Pulse Propulsion ................................................................................. 21
Other Aneutronic Rocket Designs ..................................................................... 22
Commercial Development....................................................................................22
Chapter 6: Speculation on Research Needs Over the Next 30 Years ..................... 25
Surface to Low-Earth Orbit (100 miles) .................................................................................................. 26
LEO to Mars (34 to 249 million miles) .............................................................. 27
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