DOW-UAP-D145, AAWSAP DIRD, Aneutronic Fusion Propulsion I, November 2010

Department of War · 11/1/10 · Las Vegas, Nevada · Document

DOW-UAP-D145, AAWSAP DIRD, Aneutronic Fusion Propulsion I, November 2010 is indexed as a Department of War record with incident date 11/1/10 and location Las Vegas, Nevada. This document is a Defense Intelligence Reference Document (DIRD), a technical reference format used by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to capture baseline knowledge on a specific topic for later analytic use. DIRDs are best understood as reference and synthesis products rather than as original research. It is one of 38 DIRDs produced under the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP) between 2009 and 2011. Because AAWSAP s scope permitted a broad range of supporting topics, not every DIRD in the series directly concerns aerospace systems or future threat assessment. The following summary reflects the DIRD s scope and framing at the time of writing and should not be read as implying current validation of the concepts discussed. This DIRD surveys aneutronic fusion as a possible advanced space-propulsion method, focusing on fusion reactions that release most of their energy in charged particles rather than neutrons and therefore offer potential advantages over more neutron-intensive fusion concepts, especially in radiation shielding, direct energy conversion, and thrust generation. The report reviews the underlying rocket physics, compares candidate fusion fuels and ignition conditions, and gives particular attention to proton-boron and related schemes, while also discussing Bussard s concepts and other fusion projects as representative development paths. It also makes clear that the central obstacle remains ignition and sustained net-energy fusion under practical conditions, and it notes additional problems such as x-ray energy losses from the hot plasma, extreme temperature requirements, and the gap between theoretical specific impulse and what proposed systems had demonstrated experimentally. Overall, the document presents aneutronic fusion propulsion as an attractive long-range concept for deep-space travel, but one whose practical realization still depended on major unresolved advances in fusion engineering. Redactions have been made to protect the identity of eyewitnesses, the location of government facilities, or potentially sensitive information about military sites not related to UAP. No redactions have been made to any files released under President Trump's directive concerning information about the nature or existence of any encounter reported as a UAP or related phenomena.

Notable / anomalous element

• Nuclear fission rockets had numerous problems. (native PDF text, page 19)
• Rockets optimal for flights to these stars and destinations of similar distance would require high specific impulse propulsion. (native PDF text, page 36)
• The shuttle requires expendable rockets to attain orbit. (native PDF text, page 35)
• These are the standard equations used for rocket engine performance. (native PDF text, page 12)

Details

• UNCLASSIFIED/,'P81t 8ffl01ilrt YSE 8HLlf Aneutronic Fusion Propulsion The Defense Intelligence Reference Document provides nonsubstantive but authoritative reference information related to intelli ence to ics or methodolo ies. (native PDF text, page 3)
• This product is one in a series of advanced technology reports produced in FY 2010 under the Defense Intelligence Agency, Defense Warning Office's Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications. (AAWSA) Program. (native PDF text, page 3)
• Comments or questions pertaining to this document should be addressed to (. (native PDF text, page 3)
• 1 Comparison of Specific Impulse for Various Rocket Designs. (native PDF text, page 4)
• 6 Subatomic Particle Mass, Velocity, and Energy. (native PDF text, page 4)
• 17 Rocket Design Using Fusion Energy. (native PDF text, page 4)
• 17 Chapter 3: Aneutronic Nuclear Fusion Schemes. (native PDF text, page 4)
• 20 Chapter 5: Aneutronic Fusion Propulsion Projects. (native PDF text, page 4)

Tags: War Department, Nevada, AAWSAP, Technical research, Rocket, Weapons