Fusion propulsion systems

Abstract

The results of a US Air Force Astronautics Laboratory (AFAL)-sponsored study of fusion propulsion are summarized. The study explored the potential of fusion propulsion for Air Force missions. Fusion fuels and existing confinement concepts were evaluated according to elaborate criteria. Two fuels, deuterium-tritium and deuterium-helium 3 (D-/sup 3/He), were considered worthy of further consideration. D-/sup 3/He was selected as the most attractive fuel for this Air Force study. The colliding translating compact torus confinement concept was evaluated in depth and found to possibly possess the low mass and compactness required in fusion propulsion systems. Another possibility is inertial confinement with the propellant surrounding the target. A key issue for any long-burn concept is adding propellant without interfering with the fusion burn. This is required to increase thrust and generate an optimum specific impulse for a given mission. A reusable orbit transfer vehicle (ROTV) was identified as an application where fusion propulsion can play a constructive role and is superior to both cryogenic chemical bipropellant and nuclear fission propulsion systems. >