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The way forward for a space-faring civilization will rely on the power to maneuver each cargo and people effectively and quickly. Because of the extraordinarily massive distances which might be concerned in house journey, the spacecraft should attain excessive velocities for cheap mission transit instances. Thus, a propulsion system that produces a excessive thrust with a excessive particular impulse is important. Nonetheless, no such applied sciences are at the moment accessible.
Howe Industries is at the moment growing a propulsion system that will generate as much as 100,000 N of thrust with a particular impulse (Isp) of 5,000 seconds. The Pulsed Plasma Rocket (PPR) is initially derived from the Pulsed Fission Fusion idea, however is smaller, less complicated, and extra inexpensive.
The distinctive efficiency of the PPR, combining excessive Isp and excessive thrust, holds the potential to revolutionize house exploration. The system’s excessive effectivity permits for manned missions to Mars to be accomplished inside a mere two months.
Alternatively, the PPR permits the transport of a lot heavier spacecraft which might be geared up with shielding towards Galactic Cosmic Rays, thereby decreasing crew publicity to negligible ranges. The system may also be used for different far vary missions, corresponding to these to the Asteroid Belt and even to the 550 AU location, the place the solar’s gravitational lens focuses will be thought of. The PPR permits a complete new period in house exploration.
The NIAC Part I research centered on a big, closely shielded ship to move people and cargo to Mars for the event of a Martian base. The primary subjects included: assessing the neutronics of the system, designing the spacecraft, energy system, and obligatory subsystems, analyzing the magnetic nozzle capabilities, and figuring out trajectories and advantages of the PPR. Part II will construct upon these assessments and additional the PPR idea.
In Part II, we plan to:
- Optimize the engine design for decreased mass and better Isp
- Carry out proof-of-concept experiments of main elements
- Full a ship design for shielded human missions to Mars
