Transport vehicle for manned Mars missions powered by inertial confinement fusion
Description:
Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) is an ideal engine power source for manned spacecraft to Mars because of its inherently high power-to-mass ratios and high specific impulses. We have produced a concept for a vehicle powered by ICF and utilizing a magnetic thrust chamber to avoid plasma thermalization with wall structures and the resultant degradation of specific impulse that are unavoidable with the use of mechanical thrust chambers. This vehicle is capable of 100-day manned Mars missions with…
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Date:
June 26, 1987
Creator:
Orth, C.D.; Klein, G.; Sercel, J.; Hoffman, N.; Murray, K. & Chang-Diaz, F.
Partner:
UNT Libraries Government Documents Department