Progress on the Godzilla Gigawatt MPD Plasma Accelerator and Nozzle for Fusion Propulsion Simulations

Gilland, James H.; Marriott, Darin; Mikellides, Ioannis G.; Mikellides, Pavlos G.; Turchi, P. J.

doi:10.2514/6.2003-4830

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…11 is included for illustrative purposes. We included a cusp field here, which is qualitatively similar to the Godzilla design [104]. There are significant physics and engineering challenges with any concept, and we expect to evolve and refine the basic design as the research matures and as further insights are gained.…”

Section: B Planned Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…One of the most thorough studies in magnetic nozzles for fusion propulsion was the Godzilla program, conducted at The Ohio State University and sponsored by NASA Glenn Research Center [104]. Godzilla was a gigawatt-level 1.8 MJ energy source with a high-power magnetoplasmadynamic thruster supplying a simulated steady-state fusion plasma for a two-coil magnetic nozzle.…”

Section: B Planned Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Case and Development Path for Fusion Propulsion

Cassibry¹,

Cortez²,

Stanić³

et al. 2015

Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper discusses the importance of fusion propulsion for interplanetary space travel, illustrates why the magnetoinertial fusion parameter space may facilitate the most rapid, economic path for development, justifies the choice of pulsed Z pinch, and provides a potential development path leading up to a technical readiness level 9 system. Round trips of less than one year to Mars are only possible using fusion propulsion systems. Such a system will require an onboard nuclear fission reactor for reliable startups, and so fission and fusion developments for space are mutually beneficial. The paper reviews the more than 50 year history of fusion research and summarizes results from a recent study of the fusion parameter space for terrestrial power, which suggests magnetoinertial fusion can provide the smallest, most economical approach for a fusion propulsion system. Emerging experimental data and theory show pulsed Z-pinch fusion solves some of the most deleterious instabilities and scales to fusion breakeven within reach of current pulsed power facilities. The paper illustrates a potential development path to a technical readiness level 9 flight system, starting from an assumed technical readiness level 2 for the current state of fusion propulsion. Nomenclature a = acceleration, m∕s 2 g 0 = gravitational acceleration at Earth's surface, m∕s 2 J = mission difficulty parameter, m 2 ∕s 3 k = ratio of tank to propellant mass m = mass, kg _ m = mass flow rate, kg∕s N = total number of stages, number of fusion reactions n = number density P = power, W R = distance traveled, m T = total trip time and time, s t = time, s V = reacting volume, m 3 v j = jet or exhaust velocity, m∕s Y = fusion energy yield, J α = propulsion system specific mass, kg∕W β = mission type multiplication factor γ = ratio of propulsion system to initial mass of nth stage Δv = velocity increment, m∕s λ = payload mass fraction τ = characteristic time, s Subscripts burn = propulsive burn c, coast = unpowered coasting conf = confinement d = dwell, as in dwell time τ d f = final fus = fusion jet = jet, as in for jet power P jet n = number of the stage opt = optimum p = propulsion time pay = payload pn = propulsion time for nth stage (as in for T pn ) pr = propellant ps = propulsion system t = tank 0 = initial 1, 2 = dummy subscripts indicating different species

show abstract

Section: B Planned Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: B Planned Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%