Re: RE: RE: RE: starship-design: Plasma Engine (VASIMR)

[KellySt@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/3/98 8:25:52 AM, lparker@cacaphony.net wrote:

>Kelly,
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>> I.E. the reactor fisionables are the fuel, and are heavy compared
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>> to fusion
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>> fuel to generate the same power.  This sounds like it would be
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>> pretty heavy
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>> compared to a direct fusion system.  I.E. all the fusion energy directly
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>> converted to exaust kinetic energy.
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>No, it still uses hydrogen as fuel. The reactor fissionables are actually an
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>insignificant part of the mass. Especially compared to the mass requirements
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>of a true fusion system. Think of the reactor and its fissionables as simply
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>being the "engine", a 40 kW reactor weighs only slightly more than the RTG
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>that powers Cassini.
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>Lee


How much does it weigh.? How much thrust does it give?

Kelly