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Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion: The Laser Elevator Solar System Survey for Propellants AbstractDr. Wayne Pryor worked on three projects this summer. These were: 1) Inertial Electrostatic Confinement; 2) The Laser Elevator; and 3) Solar System Survey for Propellants Abstract. We Assisted Jon Nadler from Richland Community College in assembling and operating a table-top nuclear fusion reactor. We successfully demonstrated neutron production in a deuterium plasma. Pryor also obtained basic spectroscopic information on the atomic and molecular emissions in the plasma. The second project consisted of the completion of a paper on a novel propulsion concept (due to Tom Meyer of Colorado, the first author): a laser sail that bounces light back to the laser source. Recycling the photons from source to sail perhaps 100-1000 times dramatically improves the energy efficiency of this system, which may become very important for high-velocity missions in the future. Lastly, we compiled a very basic inventory of solar system propellant resources, their locations, and their accessibility. This initial inventory concentrates on sunlight availability, water availability, and the difficulty (delta-velocity requirement and radiation environment) in getting there.
Document ID
20020043228
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Pryor, Wayne
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1999
Publication Information
Publication: 1999 NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program
Subject Category
Propellants And Fuels
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGT8-52874
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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