Method and apparatus to produce high specific impulse and moderate thrust from a fusion-powered rocket engine
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United States of America Patent
Stats
-
Nov 21, 2017
Grant Date -
Apr 9, 2015
app pub date -
May 10, 2013
filing date -
May 10, 2012
priority date (Note) -
In Force
status (Latency Note)
Importance
Abstract
A system and method for producing and controlling high thrust and desirable specific impulse from a continuous fusion reaction is disclosed. The resultant relatively small rocket engine will have lower cost to develop, test, and operate that the prior art, allowing spacecraft missions throughout the planetary system and beyond. The rocket engine method and system includes a reactor chamber and a heating system for heating a stable plasma to produce fusion reactions in the stable plasma. Magnets produce a magnetic field that confines the stable plasma. A fuel injection system and a propellant injection system are included. The propellant injection system injects cold propellant into a gas box at one end of the reactor chamber, where the propellant is ionized into a plasma. The propellant and fusion products are directed out of the reactor chamber through a magnetic nozzle and are detached from the magnetic field lines producing thrust.
First Claim
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International Classification(s)
- 2013 Application Filing Year
- F02K Class
- 252 Applications Filed
- 226 Patents Issued To-Date
- 89.69 % Issued To-Date
Cited Art Landscape
Patent Citation Ranking
- 2 Citation Count
- F02K Class
- 21.78 % this patent is cited more than
- 8 Age
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