For man to venture forth into the solar system, a radically different propulsion system
must be envisioned to make these deep space missions possible. The requirements for
deep space exploration are two-fold. First, there must be a power source that employs a
fuel with a very high specific energy. This fuel must also be available in sufficient
quantity for long missions. It is recognized that nuclear fusion is one known source that
can satisfy this requirement. Second, there must be an efficient method for converting
this energy into the thrust and Isp necessary for a fast mission. It is proposed here to
solve this second problem. This is accomplished by employing a travelling magnetic
wave accelerator to accelerate a magnetically self-confined plasmoid, commonly
referred to as a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC). Since the FRC is magnetically
isolated from the accelerator, there is no contact between the propellant (RFC) and the
accelerator. The transfer of momentum to the FRC occurs through an electromagnetic
interaction with the magnetic wave so that the exhaust velocity could, at least
theoretically, approach the speed of light.
--Dr. John Slough
MSNW
http://www.niac.usra.edu/files/studies/abstracts/359Slough.pdf
must be envisioned to make these deep space missions possible. The requirements for
deep space exploration are two-fold. First, there must be a power source that employs a
fuel with a very high specific energy. This fuel must also be available in sufficient
quantity for long missions. It is recognized that nuclear fusion is one known source that
can satisfy this requirement. Second, there must be an efficient method for converting
this energy into the thrust and Isp necessary for a fast mission. It is proposed here to
solve this second problem. This is accomplished by employing a travelling magnetic
wave accelerator to accelerate a magnetically self-confined plasmoid, commonly
referred to as a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC). Since the FRC is magnetically
isolated from the accelerator, there is no contact between the propellant (RFC) and the
accelerator. The transfer of momentum to the FRC occurs through an electromagnetic
interaction with the magnetic wave so that the exhaust velocity could, at least
theoretically, approach the speed of light.
--Dr. John Slough
MSNW
http://www.niac.usra.edu/files/studies/abstracts/359Slough.pdf
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The link above also contains a diagram of the proposed fusion engine. If successful, such a system would allow a round trip to Mars in about 30 days instead of 300 to 500 days.
See also:
http://news.yahoo.com/nuclear-fusion-rocket-could-reach-mars-30-days-111650317.html
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