Subscribe to the gold package and get unlimited access to Shamra Academy
Register a new userAchieving the required mobility in the solar system through Direct Fusion Drive
72
0
0.0
(
0
)
Ask ChatGPT about the research
No Arabic abstract
To develop a spacefaring civilization, humankind must develop technologies which enable safe, affordable and repeatable mobility through the solar system. One such technology is nuclear fusion propulsion which is at present under study mostly as a breakthrough toward the first interstellar probes. The aim of the present paper is to show that fusion drive is even more important in human planetary exploration and constitutes the natural solution to the problem of exploring and colonizing the solar system.
rate research
Read More
It is demonstrated that the development of a nuclear fusion rocket engine based on a D $-$ $^{3}$He (Deterium-Helium 3) technology will allow to travel in the solar system and beyond. The Direct Fusion Drive (DFD) is the D $-$ $^{3}$He-fueled, aneutronic, thermonuclear fusion propulsion system that is under development at Princeton University Plasma Physics Laboratory [1]. It is considered and analyzed the Earth-Mars mission using the DFD. It is shown that one-way trips to Mars in slightly more than 100 days become possible and also journeys to the asteroid belt will take about 250 days [2]. It is presented an analysis of realistic new trajectories for a robotic mission to Saturns largest moon, Titan, to demonstrate the great advantages related to the thermonuclear DFD. The trajectories calculations and analysis for Saturns largest moon Titan different profile missions are given based on the characteristics of a 2 MW class DFD engine. This capability results in a total trip duration of 2.6 years for the thrust-coast-thrust profile and less than 2 years for the continuous thrust profile [3]. Using the same 2 MW class DFD engine one can reach some trans-Neptunian object, such as the dwarf planets Makemake, Eris, and Haumea in less than 10 years with a payload mass of at least 1500 kg, so that it would enable all kind of missions, from scientific observation to in-situ operations [4]. We consider for each mission a Thrust-Coast-Thrust profile. For this reason, each mission is divided into 3 phases: i. the trajectory to escape Earth gravity influence; ii. the interplanetary travel, from the exit of Earth sphere of influence to the end of the coasting phase; iii. maneuvers to rendezvous with a target object. We present calculations to reach a vicinity at 125 AU.
The main purpose of this work is to perform an analysis of realistic new trajectories for a robotic mission to Saturns largest moon, Titan, in order to demonstrate the great advantages related to the Direct Fusion Drive (DFD). The DFD is a D -$^3$He fuelled, aneutronic, thermonuclear fusion propulsion system. This fusion propulsion concept is based on a magnetically confined field reversed configuration plasma, where the deuterium propellant is heated by fusion products, and then expanded into a magnetic nozzle, providing both thrust and electrical energy to the spacecraft [1]. The trajectories calculations and analysis for the Titan mission are obtained based on the characteristics provided by the PPPL [1]. Two different profile missions are considered: the first one is a thrust-coast-thrust profile with constant thrust and specific impulse; the second scenario is a continuous and constant thrust profile mission. Each mission study is divided into four different phases, starting from the initial low Earth orbit departure, the interplanetary trajectory, Saturn orbit insertion and the Titan orbit insertion. For all mission phases, maneuver time and propellant consumption are calculated. The results of calculations and mission analysis offer a complete overview of the advantages in term of payload mass and travel time. It is important to emphasize that the deceleration capability is one of the DFD game changer: in fact, the DFD performance allows to rapidly reach high velocities and decelerate in even shorter time period. This capability results in a total trip duration of 2.6 years for the thrust-coast-thrust profile and less than 2 years considering the continuous thrust profile. The high payload enabling capability, combined with the huge electrical power available from the fusion reactor, leads to a tremendous advantage compared to present technology.
The Direct Fusion Drive (DFD) is a nuclear fusion engine that will provide thrust and electrical power for any spacecraft. It is a compact engine, based on the D -$^{3}$He aneutronic fusion reaction that uses the Princeton field reversed configuration for the plasma confinement and an odd parity rotating magnetic field as heating method to achieve nuclear fusion (Cohen et al., 2019), which will heat the deuterium, also used as propellant. par In this work we present possibilities to explore the solar system outer border using the DFD. The objective is to reach some trans-Neptunian object, such as the dwarf planets Makemake, Eris and Haumea in less than 10 years with a payload mass of at least of 1500 kg, so that it would enable all kind of missions, from scientific observation to in-situ operations. For each mission a thrust-coast-thrust profile is considered. For this reason, each mission is divided into 3 phases: i. the spiral trajectory to escape Earth gravity; ii. the interplanetary travel, from the exit of Earth sphere of influence to the end of the coasting phase; iii. maneuvers to rendezvous with the dwarf planet. Propellant mass consumption, initial and final masses, velocities and $Delta V$ for each maneuver are presented. Calculations to reach a vicinity at 125 AU for the study of Sun magnetosphere as well as Eris via flyby are also presented, with interest on the influence of different acceleration phases. Our calculations show that a spacecraft propelled by DFD will open unprecedented possibilities to explore the border of the solar system, in a limited amount of time and with a very high payload to propellant masses ratio.
An indirect-direct hybrid-drive work-dominated hotspot ignition scheme for inertial confinement fusion is proposed: a layered fuel capsule inside a spherical hohlraum with an octahedral symmetry is compressed first by indirect-drive soft-x rays (radiation) and then by direct-drive lasers in last pulse duration. In this scheme, an enhanced shock and a follow-up compression wave for ignition with pressure far greater than the radiation ablation pressure are driven by the direct-drive lasers, and provide large pdV work to the hotspot to perform the work-dominated ignition. The numerical simulations show that the enhanced shock stops the reflections of indirect-drive shock at the main fuel-hotspot interface, and therefore significantly suppresses the hydrodynamic instabilities and asymmetry. Based on the indirect-drive implosion dynamics the hotspot is further compressed and heated by the enhanced shock and follow-up compression wave, resulting in the work-dominated hotspot ignition and burn with a maximal implosion velocity of ~400 km/s and a lower convergence ratio of ~25. The fusion yield of 15 MJ using total laser energy of 1.32 MJ is achieved.
In 2010, the Human Space Technology Initiative (HSTI) was launched by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) within the United Nations Programme on Space Applications. The Initiative aims at promoting international cooperation in human spaceflight and space exploration-related activities, creating awareness among countries on the benefits of utilizing human space technology and its applications, and building capacity in microgravity education and research. HSTI has conducted a series of outreach activities and expert meetings bringing together participants from around the world. HSTI will also be implementing science and educational activities in relevant areas to raise the capacities, particularly in developing countries, in pursuit of the development goals of the United Nations, thus contributing to promoting the peaceful uses of outer space.
Log in to be able to interact and post comments
comments
Fetching comments
Sign in to be able to follow your search criteria
