EARTHLY TASKS DONE BY A STELLAR SUBSTANCE,

Abstract

The historical development of the plasma engine is discussed. Scientists are said to feel that techniques for developing a thermonuclear reaction in plasma are still in their infancy and that many problems have yet to be solved; however, sooner or later controlled thermonnuclear reactions will provide man with an unlimited energy supply. The temperature of plasma can be changed; it has been proved theoretically that this temperature change can vary from one thousand to tens of thousands of degrees, and plasma power from one kw to millions of kw. The use of plasma in reaction engines was initiated in 1964 in the Soviet Zond-2 spacecraft. Terrestrial plasma has opened promising prospects in the conquest of outer space, and, according to Academician V. Kirillin, the Soviet Union will be able to start building industrial magnetohydrodynamic stations by 1970.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 04, 1967
Accession Number
AD0677251

Entities

People

  • V. Afanasev

Organizations

  • National Air and Space Intelligence Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biological Phenomena
  • Climate Change
  • Ecological And Environmental Phenomena
  • Engines
  • Outer Space
  • Plasma Engines
  • Scientists
  • Spacecraft
  • Thermonuclear Reactions
  • Ussr

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster