Nothing is really said about the
nuclear power source which has to produce copious electrical power without heat
issues. Since this is useful in the
power generation business and it is not available, this is likely missing. However a super sixed ion thruster is very
important and would certainly allow system provided power can be generated.
If the Focus Fusion System
succeeds, then the power part of the equation will be solved. At that point, powerful ion thrusters are an
important next step. It should also be
possible to design heavy lifters that take advantage of the atmosphere to hurl
a large load into space. A small amount
of internal fuel or even reloading in orbit will easily provide ample thrust.
The real challenge with a system needing
reaction mass is that it is seriously limiting.
Yet a magnetic funnel can collect gas from space itself into the
ionization chamber so there may be a crossover speed in which acceleration can
be sustained by intake.
To explore the Solar System it is
necessary to maintain one G of thrust continuously. A Focus Fusion Energy System combined with
advanced ion thrusters could plausibly solve the problem until we develop a
superior magnetic field exclusion vessel (MFEV).
Any way, it is good to see
ongoing dedicated effort on alternative propulsion systems, to say nothing
about the brave new future pronouncements from what is now a whole string of
Space groups.
Plutonium to Pluto: Russian nuclear space travel breakthrough
by Staff Writers
Not quite warp drive - but nuclear rocket engines would dramatically
speed up travel times within the solar system.
A ground-breaking Russian nuclear space-travel propulsion system will
be ready by 2017 and will power a ship capable of long-haul interplanetary
missions by 2025, giving Russia
The megawatt-class nuclear drive will function for up to three years
and produce 100-150 kilowatts of energy at normal capacity.
The new project proposes the use of an electric ion propulsion system.
The engines exhaust thrust will be generated by an ion flow, which is further
accelerated by an electric field.
The nuclear reactor will therefore "supply" the necessary
amount of electric power without unwanted radioactive contamination of the
environment.
Xenon will serve as propellant for the engines.
It is under development at Skolkovo ,
Russia
While the engine is expected to be fully assembled by 2017 the
accompanying craft will not be ready before 2025 former head of Roscosmos,
Anatoly Perminov, told Interfax.
Scientists expect to start putting the new engine through its paces in
operational tests as early as 2014.
The Russian government began the ambitious project in 2010 with an
investment of approximately $17 million dollars and is expected to shell out
$247 million over the next five years to complete the engine.
The idea of using a nuclear propulsion system to power space missions
is not altogether new. It came about in the 1960s and was the brainchild of
three Russian academics, Mstislav Keldysh, Igor Kurchatov and Sergey Korolev in
the Soviet Union .
Research into the field was subsequently carried out not only in the
Soviet Union, but also in the US
The stumbling block that has faced scientists over the last couple of
years is that as a craft travels further away from the sun's rays, solar energy
weakens and cannot produce the necessary energy to power electric engines
through its solar panels.
Nuclear power has generally been considered a good alternative to
fossil fuels to power space craft, as it is the only energy source capable of
producing the enormous thrust needed for fast interplanetary travel.
NASA embarked on a project to develop a nuclear engine capable of
powering a space craft, but funding was cut in 2003.
The revolutionary propulsion system falls in line with recently
announced plans for Russia
Entitled Space Development Strategies up to 2030, Russia
Source: RIA Novosti
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