The task was to survey the entire field of advanced propulsion to uncover and carry out a technical assessment of any concept that showed promise of leading to a major advance in available energy sources for space power and propulsion in the next century. In general we were to consider any concept that might derive energy from the space environment, as well as any unconventional methods of storing energy in a compact form that may have applicability to space power and propulsion. The best of these were to be selected for investigation in Phase 2 of the contract. We uncovered 62 concepts, carried out technical assessments on 26 of the more promising concepts, and recommended that four concepts be considered for more detailed study in Phase 2. The concepts recommended were solid metastable helium, solar pumped plasmas, perforated solar sails, and antiproton annihilation propulsion. Of these, the Air Force selected two concepts to receive the major portion of the Phase 2 effort, solar pumped plasmas and antiproton annihilation.

Document Archive

 Alternate Propulsion Energy Sources, Phase 1 Report for the period 3 March 1983 to 23 May 1983 [104 Pages, 4.4MB]

 Alternate Propulsion Energy Sources, Final Report for the period 3 March 1983 to 21 September 1983 [141 Pages, 8.1MB]

The post Alternative Propulsion Energy Sources, Forward Unlimited Contracted Research, 1983 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Deep Space Communication

 Research Summary Number 36-1. Volume 1 for the Period 1 December 1959-1 February 1960 [ 10 Pages, 4.1MB ] – As part of the United States Deep Space Research Program, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is establishing a system of space probe radio communication stations to be known as the Deep Space Instrumentation Facility (DSIF).

Deep Space Travel

 Outer Space Propulsion by Nuclear Energy, January/February 1958 [ 239 Pages, 17.5MB ] – The Joint Committee on Atomic Energy has for a number of years concerned itself with the development of nuclear propulsion for a variety of peacetime and military uses. Perhaps the most outstanding example of nuclear propulsion in action is the Nautilus and its counterparts in the underseas fleet of the United States Navy. This document is the: SUBCOMMITTEES OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON ATOMIC ENERGY CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES EIGHTY-FIFTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON OUTER SPACE PROPULSION BY NUCLEAR ENERGY.

 Twenty-First Century Space Propulsion Study, October 1990 [ 76 Pages, 4.46MB ] – The contract objective was to monitor the research at the forefront of physics and engineering to discover new space propulsion concepts. The major topics covered were antiproton annihilation propulsion, solar sails, space tethers, microspacecraft, and unconventional propulsion concepts. Nine papers were published on : (1) using light pressure to levitate a communication satellite poleward from its position on the equatorial geosynchronous orbit; (2) a ‘polesitter’ spacecraft that uses light pressure to hover over the polar regions of the earth; (3) a complete analysis of all the forces on a non-ideal ‘grey’ solar sail; (4) a new solar sail design with better performance than a standard solar sail; (5) a new tether transportation system called the ‘cable catapult’; (6) a thorough analysis of propulsion using negative matter; (7) a review of space warps; and (8,9) two reviews of advanced space propulsion. Also published were issues 8 through 18 of the Mirror Matter newsletter on the science and technology of stored antimatter. Five other reports are included as appendices.

 Twenty-First Century Space Propulsion Study Addendum, June 1991 [ 40 Pages, 2.28MB ] – This addendum to the final report on the contract (AL-TR-90-030, 21st Century Space Propulsion Study, (Oct 1990, ADA229279) evaluates a number of new space propulsion and sensor concepts. The major topics covered were coherent neutrino scattering and its application to neutrino sensors, the use of tethers for power and propulsion in space, the application of high pressure, high energy density materials, specifically metallic hydrogen, to divert velocity thrusters, and the use of solar sails to provide a non-orbiting space platform for surveillance and space-to-surface missiles. Two technical papers, included as appendices, are entitled: Surgical strikes from space using solar sail satellites; The Weber effect experiments.

Advanced Space Propulsion Study – Antiproton and Beamed Power Propulsion, October 1987  – The contract objective was to monitor the research at the forefront of physics and engineering to discover new spacecraft propulsion concepts. The major topics covered were antiproton annihilation propulsion, laser thermal propulsion, laser-pushed lightsails, tether transportation systems, solar sails, and metallic hydrogen. Five papers were prepared and are included as appendices. They covered 1) pellet, microwave, and laser beamed power systems for interstellar transport; 2) a design for a near-relativistic laser-pushed lightsail using near-term laser technology; 3) a survey of laser thermal propulsion, tether transportation systems, antiproton annihilation propulsion, exotic applications of solar sails, and laser-pushed interstellar lightsails; 4) the status of antiproton annihilation propulsion as of 1986, and 5) the prospects for obtaining antimatter ions heavier than antiprotons. Two additional appendices contain the first seven issues of the Mirror Matter Newsletter concerning the science and technology of antimatter, and an annotated bibliography of antiproton science and technology.

 Design and Stress Analysis of Extraterrestrial Electric Rocket Engines, 1970 [ 670 Pages, 29.67MB ] – Given are general data on the design of electric rocket engines calculation of their strength and vibrations, evaluation of their reliability. Considerable attention is given to power generators of cosmic engine installations. Analyzed are structural diagrams of nuclear reactors, isotopic power supply sources, solar concentrators and chemical fuel elements. Given are methods for calculation of strength of various generator parts; housings, casings, and walls, perforated plates under load. Discussed is the calculation of temperature stresses in heat-releasing reactor elements.

 Controlled Fusion for Space Propulsion, April 1963 [ 24 Pages, 1.1MB ] – Since controlled fusion will probably be achieved in the near future, the feasibility of applying it to the propulsion of space vehicles was studied. Some qualitative arguments are given to support the technical feasibility of this application. Problem areas that require solution prior to the establishment of design philosophy are also discussed. Because of the potential of a fusion-propelled space vehicle for the accomplishment of very high energy missions, a preliminary research program for investigating the feasibility of fusion energy for propulsion is deemed justified.

The post Deep Space Travel & Communication first appeared on The Black Vault.