Nuclear microbomb propulsion for manned deep space exploration with return travel

摘要

For manned deep space exploration with return travel a novel nuclear microbomb propulsion concept is proposed. It assumes the presence of easily mineable natural uranium and lithium deposits on Solar System planets. The concept makes use of large negative mass densities in a rapidly rotating reference system predicted by Hund as a consequence of Einstein's general theory of relativity. It permits the ignition of the deuterium thermonuclear reaction by the implosion of (LiD)-D-6 salt inside a rapidly rotating natural uranium shell by an intense relativistic electron beam of over 100 MJ. This concept avoids the drawbacks of carrying along liquid deuterium-tritium and Plutonium 239 or Uranium 235 for fission spark plugs on a deep space mission.The generation of the pulsed high-energy relativistic beams can be done by solar collectors charging the high-voltage Marx generators, or by a small natural uranium reactor, requiring not much more than a small chemical factory, not a large isotope separating facility. A small chemical plant is also needed to make the high explosives used to achieve the large rotational target velocity.