The Fission Fragment Rocket Engine for Mars Fast Transit

In this paper we discuss the advantages and challenges of utilizing Fission Fragment Rocket Engines (FFREs) to dramatically reduce transit time in space travel, for example, traveling to Mars. We discuss methods to decrease the size and weight of FFREs. These include utilizing metallic deuterides as moderators, driving the engines with electron beam bremsstrahlung, and operating the FFREs as subcritical assemblies, not as nuclear reactors. We discuss these and other new innovations based upon improved materials and technology that may be integrated into a revolutionary nuclear rocket technology.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, 2 table

Prospects For A New Light-Nuclei, Fission-Fusion Energy Cycle

Future advanced nuclear rocket propulsion, and the availability of new nuclear power cycle designs, will benefit substantially from the large current investment in alternative nuclear energy that is underway today. We propose a new nuclear cycle which includes the primary fission of lithium-6, followed by secondary fusion of deuterium and tritium, and a secondary fission of lithium-7 by tritium. This cycle does not produce nuclear waste from its nuclear fuel, since all byproducts of these cascade reactions are stable, provided that the triton production during the primary reaction is fully consumed in the secondary reactions. This cycle may, however, activate surrounding technical materials from its neutron flux. This light-element nuclear fuel is readily obtained through the ongoing expansion of the lithium mining industry and electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling industries.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure