Martin Tajmar Advanced Space Propulsion Systems Springer-Verlag Wien GmbH Dipl. Ing. Dr. Martin Tajrnar ARC Seibersdorf Research GmBH, Seibersdorf, Austria This book was generously supported by the Austrian Research Centers This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically those of translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, broadcasting, reproduction by photocopying machines or similar means, and storage in data banks. Product Liability: The publisher can give no guarantee for all the information contained in this book. This does also refer to information about drug dosage and application thereof. In every individual case the respective user must check its accuracy by consulting other pharmaceutical literature. The use of registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. © 2003 Springer-Verlag Wien Originally published by Springer-Verlag Wien New York in 2003 Typesetting: Thomson Press Ltd., Chennai, India Printing: A. Holzhausen Nfg., A-1l40 Wien Printed on acid-free and chlorine-free bleached paper SPIN: 10888345 With 121 (partly coloured) Figures CIP-data applied for ISBN 978-3-211-83862-4 ISBN 978-3-7091-0547-4 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-7091-0547-4 Contents Introduction .................................................... 1 Propulsion Fundamentals . 3 1.1 History......................................................... 3 1.2 Propulsion Fundamentals .......................................... 7 1.2.1 Tsiolkovski Equation . 8 1.2.2 Delta-V Budget. 9 l.2.3 Single-staging - Multi-staging. .. 12 1.3 Trajectory and Orbits ............................................. 14 1.3.1 Keplerian Orbital Elements in Elliptical Orbits ................... 15 1.3.2 Orbit Types ............................................... 17 1.3.3 Orbit Transfers. 19 1.4 Classification of Propulsion Systems ................................. 20 2 Chemical Propulsion Systems. 23 2.1 Thennodynamic Characterization. .. 23 2.2 Chemical Propulsion Overview ..................................... 24 2.2.1 Liquid Propulsion Systems ................................... 24 2.2.2 Solid Propulsion Systems .................................... 26 2.2.3 Hybrid Propulsion Systems. .. 27 2.3 Nozzle Design - Atmospheric Flight. .. 28 2.3.1 Cone-bell Shaped Nozzle .................................... 28 2.3.2 Advanced Nozzles with Aerodynamic Boundaries. .. 30 2.4 Advanced Propellants .... .. 31 2.4.1 Tripropellants ............................................. 31 2.4.2 High Energy Density Matter (HEDM) .......................... 32 2.5 Alternative Designs. .. 33 2.5.1 Pulse Detonation Rockets .................................... 33 2.5.2 Rocket-based Combined Cycle (RBCC) . .. 33 2.5.3 Rotary Rockets ............................................ 34 2.6 Reusable Launch Vehicles ......................................... 35 2.6.1 United States Future Launchers ............................... 36 2.6.2 European Future Launchers. .. 41 2.6.3 Japanese Future Launchers ................................... 42 3 Launch Assist Technologies ........................................... 43 3.1 Reduction of Required dv . .. 43 3.1.1 Aircraft Assisted Launch. .. 43 3.1.2 Catapults................................................. 44 3.1.3 Ultra-high Tower . .. 51 VI Contents 3.2 Advanced Drag Reduction ......................................... 51 3.2.1 Surface-charged Vehicles .................................... 52 3.2.2 Energy Spike . .. 52 3.3 Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Propulsion ............................ 53 3.4 MHD Energy Bypass Application ................................... 55 4 Nuclear Propulsion Systems .................•......................... 57 4.1 Overview....................................................... 57 4.2 Fission Propulsion. .. 58 4.2.1 Historical Overview-NERVAIPLUTO Program. .. 58 4.2.2 Solid Core ................................................ 61 4.2.3 Liquid Core.. .............................................. 62 4.2.4 Gas Core ................................................. 63 4.2.5 Fission-fragment Propulsion. .. 63 4.2.6 Improvements ............................................. 64 4.2.7 Induction Heating .......................................... 65 4.3 Radioisotope Nuclear Rocket ...... .. 65 4.4 Fusion Propulsion . .. 66 4.4.1 Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) ............................. 67 4.4.2 Magnetic Confinement Fusion (MCF) .......................... 67 4.4.3 Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion (1EC) . .. 69 4.5 Antimatter Propulsion. .. 69 4.5.1 Anti-proton Catalyzed FissionlFusion Propulsion ................. 71 4.5.2 Direct Antimatter Propulsion System ........................... 72 5 Electric Propulsion Systems ........................................... 73 5.1 Electrothermal................................................... 75 5.1.1 Resistojet................................................. 77 5.1.2 Arcjet.................................................... 78 5.1.3 SolarILaserlMicrowave Thermal Propulsion ..................... 78 5.2 Electrostatic..................................................... 80 5.2.1 Ion Thruster. .. 80 5.2.2 Hall Thruster . .. 85 5.2.3 Field Emission Thruster ..................................... 87 5.2.4 Colloid Thruster ........................................... 91 5.2.5 Laser Accelerated Plasma Propulsion . .. 92 5.3 Electromagnetic ................................................. 93 5.3.1 Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) Thruster. .. 93 5.3.2 Pulsed Plasma Thruster (PPT) . .. 94 5.3.3 Variable lsp Plasma Rocket (VASIMR) ......... .. 95 5.4 Induced Spacecraft Interactions ..................................... 96 6 Micropropulsion .................................................... 99 6.1 Chemical Propulsion . .. 99 6.1.1 Solid Microthrusters ........................................ 99 6.1.2 Micro Mono-propellant Thruster. .. 100 6.1.3 Micro Bi-propellant Thruster ................................. 101 6.1.4 Cold Gas Thruster .......................................... 101 contents VII 6.2 Electric Propulsion ............................................... 102 6.2.1 Micro Ion Thruster ......................................... 102 6.2.2 Low Power Hall Thruster .................................... 102 6.2.3 Micro PPT Thruster. .. 104 6.2.4 MEMS FEEP/Colloid Thruster. .. 104 6.2.5 Microchip Laser Thruster .................................... 105 7 Propellantless Propulsion . ............................................ 107 7.1 Tethers......................................................... 107 7.1.1 Momentum Exchange Tether ................................. 107 7.1.2 Electrodynamic Tether ...................................... 107 7.2 Propellantless ElectriclNuclear Propulsion. .. 109 7.3 Photon Rocket . .. 109 7.4 Beamed Energy Earth-to-orbit Propulsion ............................. 110 7.5 Solar Sails ... .. III 7.6 Magnetic Sails. .. 112 8 Breakthrough Propulsion ............................................. 115 8.1 Current Fundamental Limitations in Propulsion. .. 115 8.2 Quantum Physics, Relativity Theory, Electromagnetism and Space PropUlsion ............................................. 116 8.2.1 Quantum Theory and the Casimir Effect ........................ 116 8.2.2 Coupling of Gravitation and Electromagnetism ................... 118 8.3 Experiments Leading to Possible Breakthroughs . .. 120 8.3.1 Superconductor Gravitational Shielding . .. 120 8.3.2 Coupling of Charge, Mass and Acceleration. .. 121 8.4 When Will We Revolutionize Space Travel? ........................... 122 Further Reading . .. 123 Subject Index . .. 127 Acknowledgement I'm very grateful to Erich Kny and Wolfgang Renner from the Austrian Research Centers for their support and encouragement of this book. I would also like to thank my father, Peter Tajmar, for his continued help towards publication, drawings and lots of advise. This book is dedicated to my wife Yvonne and my son Alexander, who gave me the time to write this book during many nights in our kitchen! Introduction This book shall provide an up-to-date overview on a variety of advanced propulsion concepts, showing their limitations and potentials. Only necessary equations are given to understand the working principle without going into complicated details. The book is suitable for any technical student and everyone who is interested in how we will explore space in the future. M. Tajmar, Advanced Space Propulsion Systems © Springer-Verlag Wien 2003 Chapter 1 propulsion Fundamentals 1.1 History The theoretical basis of all "classical" propulsion systems is the reaction principle published by Newton in his Principia Mathematica in the summer of 1687. It was the answer to astronomer Edmond Halley'S question as to the nature of force that causes the movement and orbit of planets around the sun. This link to gravitation will be crucial when examining very advanced propulsion concepts in the last chapter of this book. However, rockets were built and flown well before Newton provided his mathematical principles. Feng Jishen, a Chinese who lived around 970 AD, is credited with the invention of the "Fire Arrow", a bamboo tube with a small hole in one end filled with gunpowder. It was used for amusement as a firework. The application as a weapon was soon realized and used against Japanese invaders in 1275. Mongolian and