Use of Mini-Mag Orion and Superconducting Coils for Near-Term Interstellar Travel
- Paper number
IAC-06-D2.8.-C3.5.-D3.5.-C4.7.02
- Author
Mr. Roger X. Lenard, Sandia National Laboratories, United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Abstract Interstellar Travel has been considered to be within the realm of very advanced propulsion techniques, such as anti-matter drives, or some form of “warp-drive.” The authors argue that far from being only within the domain of the fanciful, interstellar travel can be conducted with extensions to known technologies, although technology requirements are very high. The authors present data from experiments performed under a Phase II NASA SBIR, tend to indicate that the Mini-Mag Orion concept is feasible. The authors extrapolate their proposition to improve process efficiencies so that a high conversion yield is feasible. From this, the authors show that power densities available from the MMO concept are such that true interstellar travel, e.g. rendezvous with a distant star system are feasible within expected human lifespans. The authors show how a series of technologies can be assembled from known and available technologies to provide such a near term system. The authors will show the mission performance for rendezvous with a number of nearby star systems and from this postulate a timeframe for a first interstellar mission. Mission analysis indicates that an interstellar spacecraft requires some energy input from the departing system, and the rendezvous star system must possess a star that has a solar wind at least as strong as that of our sun. With these constraints met, near-term interstellar missions with a maximum velocity ~0.1c to 0.15c are feasible.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-D2.8.-C3.5.-D3.5.-C4.7.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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