Fusion Propulsion for Spacecraft

[joelupchurch]

I found this presentation on Fusion Propulsion here:

http://fti.neep.wisc.edu/presentations/jfs_jannaf_1205.pdf"

The Gas Dynamic Mirror seemed the most interesting and I got a lot of Google hits on it, but here are some guys working on actual proof of concept hardware.

http://memagazine.asme.org/articles/2008/november/Go_Beyond.cfm[/PLAIN]

"[URL "][URL]http://www.reiszengineers.com/space.php4

http://www.reiszengineers.com/twodimensional.php4"

 

[Bob S]

The U.S AEC built several nuclear powered rocket engines and tested them in Nevada. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_thermal_rocket
The most powerful fission reactor engine ran for 12 minutes at 4,000 megawatts. The coolant/propulsion gas was hydrogen.

 

[oswaler]

I am always excited to see advancements in propulsion technology for spacecraft. The concept of fusion propulsion has been explored for decades, and it is encouraging to see ongoing research and development in this area.

The Gas Dynamic Mirror, as presented in the first link, is a promising approach to achieving fusion propulsion. Its unique design and use of magnetic fields to confine and heat the plasma show potential for efficient and powerful propulsion. It is also interesting to see the work being done on proof of concept hardware, as shown in the second link.

The third link highlights the Two-Dimensional Gas Dynamic Mirror, which has the potential to further improve the efficiency and performance of fusion propulsion. It is encouraging to see that this technology is being explored and developed by engineers and scientists.

Overall, fusion propulsion has the potential to revolutionize space travel and open up new possibilities for exploration and discovery. It is exciting to see continued research and development in this field, and I look forward to seeing the progress and potential applications of fusion propulsion in the future.