An extremely lightweight fission rocket could reach the solar gravitational lens in 15 years

Novel propulsion concepts for shifting round space seem to be they seem to be a dime a dozen not too long ago. Apart from the standard argument between solar sails and chemical propulsion lies a possible third manner—a nuclear rocket engine. Whereas we have mentioned them right here at UT earlier than, NASA’s Institute of Superior Ideas has supplied a grant to an organization known as Positron Dynamics for the event of a novel sort of nuclear fission fragment rocket engine (FFRE). It may strike the stability between the horsepower of chemical engines and the longevity of solar sails.

FFREs are usually not a brand new idea in themselves, however many have large technical hurdles to beat earlier than they are often thought of helpful. Their benefits, equivalent to excessive particular impulse and very excessive energy density, are offset by their disadvantages, equivalent to requiring a sophisticated type of plasma levitation.

Positron Dynamics hopes to tip that stability by using two separate breakthroughs derived from different areas of analysis. The primary novel strategy can be to place the fissile materials in an ultralight aerogel. The second can be implementing a superconducting magnet to include these fission particles.

FFREs basically make the most of the identical nuclear course of that powers energy-generating nuclear plants on Earth. Nonetheless, as an alternative of producing solely electrical energy, in addition they generate thrust and a really excessive quantity of thrust at that. Nonetheless, it isn’t sensible to ship a complete bar of uranium fuel, equivalent to that utilized in fission reactors right here on Earth, up into space.

Embedding the gas itself into one of many lightest identified human substances solves that downside. Aerogels are terribly ethereal supplies that look ethereal when somebody is holding them, as they’re within the lead picture above. Embedding gas particles for the fission response in them can be a handy solution to maintain the gas collectively whereas nonetheless permitting the general construction to be mild sufficient to be lifted into orbit.

Nonetheless, the construction of the aerogels themselves would not do a lot to include the fission fragments are they break aside. To take action would require an enormous outdoors pressure, which is the place the superconducting magnet is available in.

Superconducting magnets are sometimes utilized in experimental fusion vegetation, the place they’re used to include the plasma wanted to warmth the fusion gas however which might in any other case destroy any regular materials. Given all of the curiosity in fusion analysis currently, high-power magnets have additionally been receiving additional analysis consideration.

Including one to an FFRE would permit engineers to channel the fission fragments all in the identical course, successfully turning them right into a thrust vector. It has the added benefit of not permitting the fragments to destroy some other elements of the engine as effectively.

Thus far, that is all very theoretical, as there are nonetheless loads of hurdles to beat. However that’s precisely what NIAC is for—fund early-stage tasks and try and de-risk them. Possibly sometime FFREs will be capable of hit that candy spot of velocity and fuel efficiency that so many rocket scientists dream of.