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Space/Science » in reply to Use of Bussard aneutronic boron IEC Fusor in spacecraft

More on use of aneutronic p-B11 fusor in spacecraft.
SDF — (archived)

Got this from the Fusor.net site.

World's Simplest Fusion Reactor, pdf (235 kB)

Things I find particularly interesting about the aneutronic p-B11 fusor claims are:

1. There is no radioactivity. A spacecraft using this powerplant could operate in the atmosphere, e.g. transatmospheric aircraft.

2. IEC nuclear fusors are non-thermonuclear and convert 95% of the energy into electricity rather than heat. A spacecraft would require a far smaller radiator than those which destroyed the performance of other fusion-powered spacecraft designs for anything more than interplanetary missions and made their costs prohibitive, e.g. Penn State University's ICAN II spacecraft with gigantic radiators of exotic design.

3. Extraordinarily high voltages generated can be used to create relativistic electron beams, allowing a spacecraft to have very high exhaust velocity, and therefore a very high maximum speed. The range of types of space missions would be maximized.

4. The cost estimates for space missions employing this technology are absurdly low. Even if they are off by 10-fold it would still be amazing.

Things I find disturbing about this technology:

1. It is not being agressively pursued.

2. It is not well known.

3. It is poorly funded compared to other fusion research programs.

4. Bussard himself seems unwilling to deal with the Dept. of Energy politics over funding.

5. Bussard's equipment was donated to SpaceDev, who since has not published any information on their work or goals in fusion research.

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