The VISTA spacecraft: Advantages of ICF (Inertial Confinement Fusion) for interplanetary fusions propulsion applications

Details The VISTA spacecraft: Advantages of ICF (Inertial Confinement Fusion) for interplanetary fusions propulsion applications The VISTA spacecraft: Advantages of ICF (Inertial Confinement Fusion) for interplanetary fusions propulsion applications

Oct 1987

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1987fuen.symp.....o&link_type=abstract

Presented at the Symposium on Fusion Engineering, Monterey, Calif., 12 Oct. 1987

Computer Science

Performance

Spacecraft Propulsion, Feasibility Analysis, Inertial Confinement Fusion, Interplanetary Spacecraft, Rocket Engines, Deuterium, Efficiency, Magnetic Mirrors, Tritium

Scientific paper

Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) is an attractive engine power source for interplanetary manned spacecraft, especially for near-term missions requiring minimum flight duration, because ICF has inherent high power-to-mass ratios and high specific impulses. We have developed a new vehicle concept called VISTA that uses ICF and is capable of round-trip manned missions to Mars in 100 days using A.D. 2020 technology. We describe VISTA's engine operation, discuss associated plasma issues, and describe the advantages of DT fuel for near-term applications. Although ICF is potentially superior to non-fusion technologies for near-term interplanetary transport, the performance capabilities of VISTA cannot be meaningfully compared with those of magnetic-fusion systems because of the lack of a comparable study of the magnetic-fusion systems. We urge that such a study be conducted.

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