Antiproton Catalyzed Fusion Propulsion for Interplanetary Missions

Abstract

Interplanetary trips using chemical propellants require years to complete. A recently completed study on an antiproton catalyzed fusion reaction propulsion system has shown that the specie c impulses that can be obtained are between 1500 s for a contained system to over 100,000 s for a system that directly uses the fusion reaction products. Thrust-to-weight ratios exceeding 1 can be sustained. This allows considerably shorter solar system travel times than conventional chemical propellants. Missions considered range from inner to outer solar system distances. A tradeoff can be made between reducing travel time and reducing initial mass in low Earth orbit. Missions to the inner planets can be shortened considerably for a given mass ratio, whereas missions to the outermost planets will be several weeks in duration.