DOW-UAP-D146, AAWSAP DIRD, Aneutronic Fusion Propulsion II, November 2010

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

DOW-UAP-D146, AAWSAP DIRD, Aneutronic Fusion Propulsion II, 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 revisits aneutronic fusion propulsion in a more systems-oriented manner, arguing that fusion concepts using low-neutron fuels such as proton-boron or helium-3 could become attractive for space propulsion because they reduce shielding burdens and may support direct conversion of charged-particle energy into thrust or onboard power. The report reviews the relevant fusion plasma physics and focuses on several candidate confinement approaches, then connects those concepts to possible applications in near-space, orbital, and interplanetary propulsion. It presents the most plausible nearer-term use as very high-power electric or plasma propulsion for satellites and deep-space missions rather than atmospheric flight or interstellar travel, while emphasizing that major obstacles remain in ignition, sustained confinement, system mass, power handling, fuel storage, launch integration, and end-to-end 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

• VASIMR Thruster The Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) is an electromagnetic thruster for spacecraft propulsion. (native PDF text, page 20)
• Whether it is reducing rows and rows of capacitor banks to pulse generators, shrinking immense superconducting magnets to a more compact and lightweight geometry, or engineering integrated fusion propulsion systems to fit onto a booster rocket, the physicists who pioneered much of the reactor and propulsion technology. (native PDF text, page 35)
• The assistance of conventional rocket technology plus air-breathing magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)-assisted propulsion to augment aneutronic fusion plasma propulsion has been studied as depicted in Figu re 12. (native PDF text, page 18)
• The DPF fus ion rocket system could then provide additional propulsion, power, and acceleration outside the atmosphere at speeds above the Mach 14 air-breathing MHD threshold. (native PDF text, page 18)

Details

• UNCLASSIFIED/ FOR OFFICIJ!tt t:99[ 8HL (U) 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 2)
• This product is one of a series of advanced technology reports produced in FY 2010 under the Defense Intelligence Agency, Defense Warning Office's Advanced Aerospace Weapons System Applications CMWSA} program Comments or questions pertaining to this document should be addressed to!AAP Person 1 }\AwsA Program Manager,. (native PDF text, page 2)
• 6 Figure 3. a) Tokamak and b) Stellarator Confinement. (native PDF text, page 4)
• IEC Fusor and Polywell Confinement Configurations. (native PDF text, page 4)
• Magnetized Target Fusion Experiment at LANL. (native PDF text, page 4)
• Dense Plasma Focus (Lawrenceville Plasma Physics). (native PDF text, page 4)
• Specific Power as a Function of Plasma Temperature of Fusion Rocket. (native PDF text, page 4)
• Progress in Tokamak Magnetic Confinement Fusion. (native PDF text, page 4)

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