Antiproton Annihilation Propulsion
Abstract
Antiproton annihilation propulsion is a new form of space propulsion, where milligrams of antimatter are used to heat tons of reaction fluid to high temperatures. The hot reaction fluid is exhausted from a nozzle to produce high thrust at high specific impulse. This study was to determine the physical, engineering, and economic feasibility of antiproton annihilation propulsion. The conclusion of the study is that antiproton propulsion is feasible, but expensive. Because the low mass of the antimatter fuel more than compensates for its high price, comparative mission studies show that antimatter fuel can be cost effective in space, where even normal chemical fuel is expensive because its mass must be lifted into orbit before it can be used. Antiproton annihilation propulsion is mission enabling, in that it allows missions to be performed that cannot be performed by any other propulsion system. Keywords: Antimatter propulsion; Antiproton; Advanced propulsion.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA160734
Entities
People
- R. L. Forward
Organizations
- University of Dayton