Defense Intelligence Reference Document Aneutronic Fusion Propulsion (2)

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• May have near-term applications to replace current satellite ion thrusters and
extend application to interplanetary flight.
• Requires extensive technology development for air and near-space applications.
• Will not be practical beyond the solar system unless breakthrough propulsion
physics can assist the flight to the next stellar system, where fusion "ion
thrusters" can then be used.
Despite the attention propulsion has gotten from the scientific community, the problem
has been insufficiently addressed by the space science community. Although it is
certainly true that the fusion drive train must be successful from a theoretical and
experimental perspective before consideration for adaptation to the space environment,
many critical aspects such as Earth-based launch, space-based assembly, space
materials science, safe flight operations, and mission success need to be introduced
early in the design phase. More importantly, now that these fusion propulsion concepts
are starting to look both feasible and attractive, the transition to space and the inherent
aerospace application development need considerable focus.
Toward this consideration, we now begin with a background on plasma physics that
includes fusion efficiencies and confinement schemes for aneutronic fusion, which leads
us to the application to the propulsion concept discussions that follow.
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