Defense Intelligence Reference Document Positron Aerospace Propulsion

This unclassified Defense Intelligence Reference Document from the Defense Intelligence Agency is dated 2 March 2010. It was produced in FY 2009 under the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications (AAWSA) Program. The report reviews work on using positrons as aerospace fuel. It covers air-breathing turbojet and ramjet engines, unmanned aircraft, missiles, single-stage reusable vehicles, positron rockets and a crewed Mars mission, along with how positrons could be produced and stored. It concludes that a first positron-powered flight around the globe could be possible within 10 years.

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Figure 2. Tory-IIC Ready for Testing (courtesy LLNL}
In a positron turbojet/ramjet engine (PTRE), 8 tungsten shells are heated by gamma
rays, with heat transferred to air by convection. 9 , 10
turboJet turbine
positron trap
..
turboJet compressor
turboiet healing
chamber
tungsten shells
used for heating
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Figure 3. PTRE Turbojet (green} and Turbo-Ramjet (red} Modes (courtesy Positronics Research LLC) 11
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