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Advanced Propulsion Systems in Space Exploration

Advanced Propulsion Systems in Space Exploration. Anand Natarajan Anand.Natarajan@comcast.net Alexander Dawson School. Overview. Goals and Objectives Need for New Propulsion Related Research Projects Advanced Concepts Conclusions. Goals and Objectives. More aggressive long term goals

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Advanced Propulsion Systems in Space Exploration

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  1. Advanced Propulsion Systems in Space Exploration Anand Natarajan Anand.Natarajan@comcast.net Alexander Dawson School Undergraduate Space Research Symposium

  2. Overview • Goals and Objectives • Need for New Propulsion • Related Research Projects • Advanced Concepts • Conclusions Undergraduate Space Research Symposium

  3. Goals and Objectives • More aggressive long term goals • Human Missions to far away planets • Regular human missions throughout the solar system • Reduced trip times to (space) bases and colonies • Research into interstellar travel • Educating public on space exploration Undergraduate Space Research Symposium

  4. The Need for New Propulsion • Current rocket technology has a low specific impulse of 450 sec. • Need a major improvement • Newer ideas such as tripropellants are all either unstable, explosive, toxic, or a combination of these • One Way Trips to Mars will take 1 year with Chemical Rockets • Newer concepts are necessary Undergraduate Space Research Symposium

  5. Related Research Projects • NASA’s Project Prometheus • Antimatter research at Penn State • Not enough funding for these projects Undergraduate Space Research Symposium

  6. Advanced Concepts • Nuclear Fission • Nuclear Fusion • Antimatter • Beamed Energy Propulsion Undergraduate Space Research Symposium

  7. Nuclear Fission • Buildable with today’s technology • Orion, Nuclear Pulse Propulsion • Nuclear thermal and the Nuclear Lightbulb • Fission Fragment Propulsion • Radioactivity Undergraduate Space Research Symposium

  8. Nuclear Fusion • Extremely Difficult • Magnetic Confinement • Inertial Confinement • Inertial Electrostatic Confinement • VASIMR Undergraduate Space Research Symposium

  9. Antimatter • Very High Performance • Fuel is very expensive • Hard to trap • Hybrid Systems • Interstellar Travel Undergraduate Space Research Symposium

  10. Beamed Energy Propulsion • Leaves engine at home • Electromagnetic waves push vehicle • Enormous infrastructure needed • Impractical for human interstellar missions Undergraduate Space Research Symposium

  11. Conclusions • Fission, Fusion, and antimatter are the only viable systems for interplanetary and interstellar manned spaceflight • We need a long term plan and a national goal on space exploration • Need more funding • Incentives for private enterprises • The public needs to be educated about nuclear space missions and why they are necessary • I am looking for a mentor to guide me and any help would be appreciated (Anand.Natarajan@comcast.net) Undergraduate Space Research Symposium

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