AIMStar
AIMStar was a proposed antimatter-catalyzed nuclear pulse propulsion craft that uses clouds of antiprotons to initiate fission and fusion within fuel pellets. A magnetic nozzle derives motive force from the resulting explosions. The design was studied during the 1990s by Penn State University.
The craft was designed to reach a distance on the order of 10,000 AU from the Sun, with a travel time of 50 years, and a coasting velocity of approximately 960 km/s after the boost phase (roughly 1/300th of the speed of light). The probe would be able to study the interstellar medium as well as reach Alpha Centauri. [1]
The project would require more antimatter than we are capable of producing. In addition, some technical hurdles need to be surpassed before it would be feasible. [2]
See also
- ICAN-II - A similar concept that uses less antimatter but more fission propellant
- Nuclear pulse propulsion
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Antimatter Production for Near-term Propulsion Applications http://www.engr.psu.edu/antimatter/papers/nasa_anti.pdf
External links
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