Angus-O'Dell Sublight Engine
The Angus-O'Dell Sublight Engine or AOSE is a theoretical fusion propulsion concept currently under development by Slipspace Industries Corp. It utilizes magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters to accelerate quasi-neutral deuterium plasma to high velocities, which is then collided to create steady state deuterium-deuterium (D-D) fusion. The fusion products, along with the unreacted plasma, are then accelerated through a magnetic nozzle, providing thrust. The exact details regarding the design are not publicly known. It is named after its designers, American engineers Alec Angus and Ethan O'Dell.[1]
| Country of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Designer | Alec Angus, Ethan O'Dell |
| Manufacturer | Slipspace Industries Corp. |
| Application | Interplanetary |
| Status | Theoretical |
| Performance | |
| Thrust | 100 MN (22,480,894 lbf) (predicted) |
| References | |
| References | [1] |
| Notes |
|
Development
The Angus-O'Dell Sublight Engine uses a series of magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters to accelerate ionized deuterium plasma to velocities of over 100 kilometers per second (100,000 m/s). The plasma streams then converge to a confined point where the plasma undergoes partial D-D fusion. Its designers aim for a fusion reaction efficiency of 5-10%. A thermoelectric generator converts the large amounts of heat created by the fusion reaction into electrical energy as the fusion reaction products and the portion of the plasma that did not undergo fusion are expelled from a magnetic rocket nozzle. The exhaust serves as reaction mass to provide thrust. According to Slipspace Industries, the engine could produce thrust levels as high as 100 MN (100,000,000 N), which would make it the most powerful spacecraft engine ever developed. In addition to the fusion rocket component, the engine also incorporates a liquid rocket engine for low-thrust maneuvering scenarios as well as emergency propulsion in the event that the fusion components fail. The liquid rocket utilizes a "hollow" de Laval nozzle, the characteristics of which are being studied by the company. The first variant of the engine is referred to as the S-DD19. The company plans to test the engine by 2024.[1][2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Angus-O'Dell Sublight Engine". slipspaceindustries.com. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ↑ "The Ship of the Future". slipspaceindustries.com. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
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