(ORDO NEWS) — Recently, it seems that new ideas for moving in space are a dime a dozen. Aside from the typical solar sail versus chemical propulsion dispute, there is a potential third path, nuclear rocket propulsion.
Although we have already discussed them here in the universe today, NASA‘s Institute for Advanced Concepts has awarded a grant to Positron Dynamics for the development of a new type of nuclear fission rocket engine (FFRE).
This could strike a balance between the power of chemical engines and the durability of solar sails.
FFREs themselves are not a new concept, but many of them must overcome huge technical hurdles before they can be considered useful.
Their advantages, such as high specific impulse and extremely high power density, are offset by their disadvantages, such as the need for a complex form of plasma levitation.
Positron Dynamics hopes to tip that balance by leveraging two separate breakthroughs from other areas of research.
The first new approach would be to place the fissile material in an ultralight airgel. The second will be the introduction of a superconducting magnet to hold these fission particles.
FFREs essentially use the same nuclear process that powers the nuclear power plants that generate energy on Earth. However, instead of only generating electricity, they also generate thrust, and very much thrust.
However, it is not practical to send a whole bar of uranium fuel, such as that used in nuclear reactors. here on Earth, in space.
Embedding the fuel itself in one of the lightest substances known to man solves this problem.
Aerogels are unusually airy materials that look ethereal when someone holds them in their hands. them as they are in the main image above.
Embedding fission propellant particles in them would be a convenient way to hold the propellant together while still allowing the overall structure to be light enough to be lifted into orbit.
However, the structure of the aerogels themselves won’t do much to hold onto the fission fragments as they decay.
This would require a massive external force, and this is where the superconducting magnet comes into play.
Superconducting magnets are commonly used in experimental fusion facilities, where they are used to hold the plasma needed to heat the fusion fuel but which would otherwise destroy any normal material.
Given all the recent interest in fusion research, powerful magnets are also attracting additional research attention.
Adding a single magnet to the FFRE will allow engineers to point all of the fission fragments in the same direction, effectively turning them around. into the thrust vector. This has the added benefit that the fragments cannot destroy any other parts of the engine.
So far, all this is purely theoretical, since there are still many obstacles to be overcome. But that’s what NIAC is for, to fund early-stage projects and try to mitigate their risks.
Perhaps someday FFREs will be able to achieve the superior speed and fuel efficiency that so many rocket scientists dream of.
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