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Efficient Solar-System Travel Requires High-Exhaust-Velocity, Low-Thrust Propulsion

Course Summary Session: Trajectories, Chemical Rockets, Plasma Propulsion, Fusion Propulsion John F Santarius Lecture 43 Resources from Space NEEP 533/ Geology 533 / Astronomy 533 / EMA 601 University of Wisconsin.

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Efficient Solar-System Travel Requires High-Exhaust-Velocity, Low-Thrust Propulsion

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  1. Course Summary Session:Trajectories, Chemical Rockets, Plasma Propulsion, Fusion PropulsionJohn F SantariusLecture 43Resources from SpaceNEEP 533/ Geology 533 / Astronomy 533 / EMA 601University of Wisconsin

  2. Efficient Solar-System Travel RequiresHigh-Exhaust-Velocity, Low-Thrust Propulsion • Electric power can be used to drive high-exhaust-velocity plasma or ion thrusters, or fusion plasmas can be directly exhausted. Fusion rocket (  specific power) • Allows fast trip times or large payload fractions for long-range missions. • Uses relatively small amounts of propellant, reducing total mass. 2 JFS 1999 University of Wisconsin

  3. Plasma Thrusters Give High Exhaust Velocity Electrostatic thruster Electrodynamic thruster Electrothermal thruster From University of Stuttgart’s web page: www.irs.uni-stuttgart.de/RESEARCH/ EL_PROP/e_el_prop.html From Robert Jahn, Physics of Electric Propulsion (1968)

  4. D-3He Fusion Would Outperform D-T Fusion for Space Applications • High charged-particle fraction allows efficient direct conversion to thrust or electricity. • Increases useful power. • Reduces heat-rejection (radiator) mass. • Allows flexible thrust and specific-impulse tailoring. • Low neutron fraction reduces radiation shielding. • D-3He eliminates need for a tritium-breeding blanket. 4 JFS 1999 University of Wisconsin

  5. Field-Reversed Configurations Appear Attractive for Fusion Space Propulsion From Univ. of Washington web page for the Star Thrust Experiment (STX): www.aa.washington.edu/AERP/RPPL/STX.html JFS 1999

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