Photofission enables a unique capability for the domain of non-chemical space propulsion. An ultra-intense laser enables the capacity to induce nuclear fission through the development of bremsstrahlung photons. A fundamental architecture and performance analysis of a photofission pulsed space propulsion system through the operation of an ultra-intense laser is presented. A historical perspectiv...

The largest experience in operating nuclear power plants has been in nuclear naval propulsion, particularly aircraft carriers and submarines. This accumulated experience may become the basis of a proposed new generation of compact-sized nuclear power plants designs. The mission for nuclear powered submarines is being redefined in terms of signal intelligence gathering and special operations. Th...

A new spacecraft propulsion scheme is proposed which leverages advances in high-energy particle acceleration via laser-plasma interactions. Ponderomotive forces associated with laser wake-fields have demonstrated the potential to accelerate electrons to near-relativistic energies. Different schemes are investigated which may generate efficient propulsion systems for deep-space and manned space ...

As Electric Propulsion (EP) increases in recognition as a means of spacecraft primary propulsion and orbit maintenance, more complex spacecraft using EP will be produced. With the proven adage, test what we fly and fly what we test, the ground and on-orbit verification programs for those spacecraft utilizing EP for primary propulsion also increases in complexity. While EP systems have been test...

Pulsed Nuclear Space Propulsion, researched in the 1950s and 1960s by such eminent physicists as Freeman Dyson, Ted Taylor, Theodore von Karman, Hans Bethe, involves propelling large spacecraft using compact nuclear explosions from specialized atomic devices. This technology is often known name of Air Force project which it was developed: Orion. It has long been believed that 1962 Limited Test ...

T H E engineering fundamentals, potentialities and problems associated with the alapli,cat'ion .of nuclear energy to rocket propulsion ,have been .reporte.d. 3,4,s,~1,24,2~,2~ Work on nuclear rocket propulsion 'has been underway at the Los Alamos Scientific LaSoratory for a number .o,f years under the code name Project Rover. ~ An inherent advantage of nuclear prop.ulsion is t'he unlimited ener...