AAWSAP DIRD, Aneutronic Fusion Propulsion II, November 2010

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Chapter 7: Conclusions
Much of the groundwork (literally) for aneutronic fusion propulsion has been
accomplished, including conducting fusion experiments, development of design
concepts, and the analysis of applications to aerospace propulsion. Transitioning these
concepts to space is an immense challenge given the large mass, power requirements,
and support engineering for power conversion, energy recovery, and fuel storage. This
transition, however, may depend upon the success of the developments of privately
funded ventures attempting to develop terrestrial power. Notwithstanding such
developments, their application for both military and space or near-space applications
requires a much lower threshold for return on investment than terrestrial power.
Pulsed-powered DPF or IEC aneutronic fusion thrusters may have near-term
applications to replace current satellite ion thrusters. This could be extended to the very
high-power domain of beam-assisted FRC for manned interplanetary flight. The near­
space domain will require major improvements in technology to reduce system mass
since the size enters the MW range. The application to the aircraft domain will require
further developments in technology to reduce system mass and/or the use of DT fuels,
which present other potential safety issues. Aneutronic fusion propulsion will not be
practical beyond the solar system unless breakthrough propulsion physics is developed
that can assist the flight to the next stellar system where fusion thrusters can then be
used.
Whether it is reducing rows and rows of capacitor banks to pulse generators, shrinking
immense superconducting magnets to a more compact and lightweight geometry, or
engineering integrated fusion propulsion systems to fit onto a booster rocket, the
physicists who pioneered much of the reactor and propulsion technology must now
work side-by-side with the space systems companies to explore viable propulsion
systems from implementation to on-orbit maintenance and attitude control. The future
needs to be focused more on science and engineering and less on science fiction.
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