Electric propulsion - A far reaching technologyIt is shown that a starprobe could be built to perform a flyby mission to Proxima Centauri in approximately 400 years. This vehicle would use familiar fission nuclear reactor and ion propulsion system technologies to achieve a burn-out velocity of 0.0122c. Fine engineering and progressive technology refinements are shown to be the key to operating, and further improving, the capability of this long burn time propulsion system.
Document ID
19860033099
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Aston, G. (California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, United States)