University of Washington, MSNW A concept image of a spacecraft powered by a fusion-driven rocket. In this image, the crew would be in the forward-most chamber. Solar panels on the sides would collect energy to initiate the process that creates fusion.
Human travel to Mars has long been the unachievable dangling carrot for space programs.
Now, astronauts could be a step closer to our nearest planetary neighbor through a unique manipulation of nuclear fusion, the same energy that powers the sun and stars.
University of Washington researchers and scientists at a Redmond-based space-propulsion company are building components of a fusion-powered rocket aimed to clear many of the hurdles that block deep space travel, including long times in transit, exorbitant costs and health risks.
“Using existing rocket fuels, it’s nearly impossible for humans to explore much beyond Earth,” said lead researcher John Slough, a UW research associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics. “We are hoping to give us a much more powerful source of energy in space that could eventually lead to making interplanetary travel commonplace.”
The project is funded through NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts Program. Last month at a symposium, Slough and his team from MSNW, of which he is president, presented their mission analysis for a trip to Mars, along with detailed computer modeling and initial experimental results. Theirs was one of a handful of projects awarded a second round of funding last fall after already receiving phase-one money in a field of 15 projects chosen from more than 700 proposals.
NASA estimates a round-trip human expedition to Mars would take more than four years using current technology. The sheer amount of chemical rocket fuel needed in space would be extremely expensive – the launch costs alone would be more than $12 billion.
Slough and his team have published papers calculating the potential for 30- and 90-day expeditions to Mars using a rocket powered by fusion, which would make the trip more practical and less costly.
But is this really feasible?
Slough and his colleagues at MSNW think so. They have demonstrated successful lab tests of all portions of the process. Now, the key will be combining each isolated test into a final experiment that produces fusion using this technology, Slough said.
The research team has developed a type of plasma that is encased in its own magnetic field. Nuclear fusion occurs when this plasma is compressed to high pressure with a magnetic field. The team has successfully tested this technique in the lab.
Only a small amount of fusion is needed to power a rocket – a small grain of sand of this material has the same energy content as 1 gallon of rocket fuel.
To power a rocket, the team has devised a system in which a powerful magnetic field causes large metal rings to implode around this plasma, compressing it to a fusion state. The converging rings merge to form a shell that ignites the fusion, but only for a few microseconds. Even though the compression time is very short, enough energy is released from the fusion reactions to quickly heat and ionize the shell. This super-heated, ionized metal is ejected out of the rocket nozzle at a high velocity. This process is repeated every minute or so, propelling the spacecraft.
The team had a sample of the collapsed, fist-sized aluminum ring resulting from one of those tests on hand for people to see and touch at the recent NASA symposium.
“I think everybody was pleased to see confirmation of the principal mechanism that we’re using to compress the plasma,” Slough said. “We hope we can interest the world with the fact that fusion isn’t always 40 years away and doesn’t always cost $2 billion.”
Now, the team is working to bring it all together by using the technology to compress the plasma and create nuclear fusion. Slough hopes to have everything ready for a first test at the end of the summer.
The Latest Bing News on:
Fusion-powered rocket
- Fusion rocket breakthrough will allow us to 'leave Solar System and conquer own planets'on May 21, 2022 at 11:22 am
Entrepreneur Richard Dinan is trying to harness the power of nuclear energy in space to create a fusion rocket that can one day blast humanity past the Solar System ...
- Fusion rocket breakthrough to allow humans to LEAVE Solar System and ‘claim own planets'on May 21, 2022 at 1:01 am
"We don't know our future, but if we can do fusion, it means we can power our planet cleanly forever and it means that we can actually leave our Solar System. "The speed that rocket engines that ...
- The DoD plans to launch two nuke-propelled spacecraft by 2027on May 20, 2022 at 9:43 am
Two commercial enterprises have been awarded contracts by the DoD to develop the next generation of nuclear propulsion in space.
- Discovery of high-speed moving plasma turbulence for the first time in the worldon May 19, 2022 at 8:03 am
In order to achieve a fusion power plant, it is necessary to stably ... The speed of this turbulence is close to that of a rocket. Assistant Professor Naoki Kenmochi said, "This research has ...
- Discovery of high-speed moving plasma turbulence that outpaces the movement of heaton May 18, 2022 at 5:01 pm
In order to achieve a fusion power plant, it is necessary to stably ... The speed of this turbulence is close to that of a rocket. Assistant Professor Naoki Kenmochi says that "this research ...
- Nuclear fusion breakthrough takes world one step closer to harnessing limitless star poweron May 18, 2022 at 12:48 am
Mr Dinan, whose company is looking to power rockets with nuclear fusion, says ITER can unlock a "really powerful" fusion burn. He added: "ITER will give us a really powerful fusion burn. It's a ...
- Pentagon boosts two Seattle ventures working on nuclear-powered prototypes for space applicationson May 17, 2022 at 10:44 am
Two Seattle companies have won Pentagon contracts to develop nuclear-powered prototypes for space applications, with orbital demonstrations set for 2027. The Defense Innovation Unit says Ultra Safe ...
- DIU selects nuclear-powered spacecraft designs for 2027 demonstrationson May 17, 2022 at 7:10 am
“Compared to other fusion concepts, Orbitron devices are promising for space applications as they may be scaled down in size and enable their use as both a propulsion and power source,” said DI ...
- Startup Tests Rocket Powered by Recycled Plasticon November 27, 2021 at 4:05 pm
A UK startup called Pulsar Fusion test-fired a hybrid rocket engine last week that was partially powered by waste plastic. The “green” rocket uses a hybrid fuel made with high density ...
- 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Reviewon August 26, 2020 at 12:24 pm
It’s no rocket, but it’s no slouch ... The battery-operated Fusion also handles fairly nicely. Its electric-assist power steering sends a reasonably-good amount of feedback to the driver.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Fusion-powered rocket
[/vc_column_text]
The Latest Bing News on:
Interplanetary travel
- Elon Musk's SpaceX plans to settle Mars before the century is outon May 25, 2022 at 6:48 am
Elon Musk and SpaceX are on a mission, well missions, to get humanity to Mars. But, their ambitions go much further than that.
- Pilot's dying wish of space travel fulfilled with memorial flighton May 25, 2022 at 1:32 am
An Annapolis man’s mother is going to space Wednesday as part of a memorial spaceflight. “It’s a totally unique experience and probably one of the best things you could do to honor somebody,” said ...
- Elon Musk’s crazily banal weekon May 23, 2022 at 2:31 am
From overbidding on Twitter to becoming a Republican to settling a sexual-harassment claim, he has acted the part of a garden-variety mogul ...
- From settling a sexual-harassment claim to overbidding on Twitter, Elon Musk’s crazily banal weekon May 22, 2022 at 8:23 pm
From overbidding on Twitter to becoming a Republican to settling a sexual-harassment claim, he’s acted the part of a garden-variety mogul.
- Ohio’s foundational role in space exploration creates a specialized environment for aerospace companies to thriveon May 19, 2022 at 1:19 pm
According to NASA, “the engine or vehicle can be exposed for indefinite periods to low ambient pressures, low-background temperatures and dynamic solar heating to simulate the environment of orbital ...
- Elon Musk Spotted Seemingly Using Starship Heat Shield as Snack Trayon May 17, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Twitter users spotted an interesting little piece of serving ware in a picture of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Indonesian president Joko Widodo having a chat.
- Will Elon Musk go to Mars?on May 17, 2022 at 11:59 am
Elon Musk founded SpaceX back in 2022, to “revolutionize the aerospace industry and make affordable spaceflight a reality.” While it’s now a preferred NASA partner, it wasnt ...
- The Next Space Race: Private Rocket Titans, Payload Delivery And Smart Satellite Systemson May 12, 2022 at 5:00 pm
A new space race is taking flight. The pivoting of private rocket providers who are not getting their share are planning to pounce, payload systems are retooling, and new smaller and smarter satellite ...
- How Disney's New Guardians of the Galaxy Roller Coaster Uses Story To Make You Feel Like You're Floating In Spaceon May 6, 2022 at 2:23 pm
So as a simulation of interplanetary travel, it’s an abstract one. The real special effect is what occurs in the mind. The mixture of movement and suggestion conspire with childhood imagination ...
- Sea of Tranquility review: Emily St John Mandel’s time-travel mess is no Station Elevenon April 15, 2022 at 3:00 am
I wonder who that is based on), Mandel can imagine airships for interplanetary travel, but she can’t imagine new standards for gender dynamics. A fan comments that Olive’s husband must be ...