Mini-Mag Orion
Encyclopedia
Mini-Mag Orion, or Miniature Magnetic Orion, is a proposed type of spacecraft propulsion, based on the Project Orion
nuclear propulsion system. The Mini-Mag Orion system achieves propulsion by compressing fissile material in a magnetic field (a Z-pinch
) until fission
occurs. This fission reaction propels the craft. MMO should be able to propel 100 tons to Mars
within 3 months, or to Jupiter
in about one year.
concluded a Phase I NASA
Small Business Innovation Research
project on an iteration of the original Project Orion
concept, termed MagOrion. MagOrion introduced the use of a large (2 km diameter) superconducting ring to interact with the plasma debris of the nuclear explosive pulses, replacing the mechanically dampened pusher plate of the original Project Orion concept. This enabled specific impulses above 10,000 seconds with initial system Thrust to Weight ratios from 0.2 to 10. However, the study also identified several potential showstoppers for MagOrion, such as the brittleness of superconductors, their susceptibility to critical self-field limitations, the technical challenge of constructing a 2 km diameter superconductor in space, and the political difficulty of launching a device capable of ejecting nuclear explosives at high repetition rates. These concerns led to the next iteration in the Orion family of designs, Mini-MagOrion (MMO), which is discussed here. The MMO program was funded jointly by NASA
and the US Department of Energy (DOE)
The second test was conducted on the SNL Z-Machine, the world's most powerful x-ray emitter and z-pinch at that time. The experiment was intended to measure the relationship between the applied power pulse and the resulting compression ratio of the target. The experiments did not use fissile material, but an number inert heavy element (gold, tungsten, etc) to avoid contamination of the facility. The results were inconclusive however, due to challenges with the measurement equipment used to determine the compression ratio.
, the MMO concept continues to be discussed throughout the blogosphere.
Project Orion (nuclear propulsion)
Project Orion was a study of a spacecraft intended to be directly propelled by a series of explosions of atomic bombs behind the craft...
nuclear propulsion system. The Mini-Mag Orion system achieves propulsion by compressing fissile material in a magnetic field (a Z-pinch
Z-pinch
In fusion power research, the Z-pinch, also known as zeta pinch or Bennett pinch , is a type of plasma confinement system that uses an electrical current in the plasma to generate a magnetic field that compresses it...
) until fission
Nuclear fission
In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts , often producing free neutrons and photons , and releasing a tremendous amount of energy...
occurs. This fission reaction propels the craft. MMO should be able to propel 100 tons to Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
within 3 months, or to Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
in about one year.
History
In June 2000 Andrews SpaceAndrews Space
Andrews Space is a small aerospace company based in Seattle, Washington, founded in 1999 to develop space systems. Andrews provides aerospace services for commercial, civil, and military clients.-Current projects:...
concluded a Phase I NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Small Business Innovation Research
Small Business Innovation Research
The Small Business Innovation Research program is a United States Government program, coordinated by the Small Business Administration, in which 2.5% of the total extramural research budgets of all federal agencies with extramural research budgets in excess of $100 million are reserved for...
project on an iteration of the original Project Orion
Project Orion
Project Orion may refer to:*Project Orion was an engineering design study of spacecraft powered by nuclear pulse propulsion...
concept, termed MagOrion. MagOrion introduced the use of a large (2 km diameter) superconducting ring to interact with the plasma debris of the nuclear explosive pulses, replacing the mechanically dampened pusher plate of the original Project Orion concept. This enabled specific impulses above 10,000 seconds with initial system Thrust to Weight ratios from 0.2 to 10. However, the study also identified several potential showstoppers for MagOrion, such as the brittleness of superconductors, their susceptibility to critical self-field limitations, the technical challenge of constructing a 2 km diameter superconductor in space, and the political difficulty of launching a device capable of ejecting nuclear explosives at high repetition rates. These concerns led to the next iteration in the Orion family of designs, Mini-MagOrion (MMO), which is discussed here. The MMO program was funded jointly by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
and the US Department of Energy (DOE)
Concept
The Mini-MagOrion (MMO) concept attempts to address the identified short-comings of the MagOrion concept. The MMO design adds two important aspects to the family of Orion concepts: first, the use of magnetic compression of the fissile targets enables the utilization of much smaller explosions (50-500 GJ yield vs. 20,000 GJ), which are triggered by an external device, and thus cannot be projected as a potential weapon. Secondly, utilizing smaller yield explosions allowed for the replacement of the large superconducting ring with a more sophisticated assembly of several coils, arranged into a nozzle like configuration.Testing
Andrews Space worked together with the US Sandia National Laboratory to conduct several experiments that demonstrated key components of the MMO design. The first experiment (conducted on the SNL Saturn machine) showed that mylar (of form of plastic foil) could be used as a conductor to direct the current into the fuel pellet, which would then setup the imploding magnetic field to compress it.The second test was conducted on the SNL Z-Machine, the world's most powerful x-ray emitter and z-pinch at that time. The experiment was intended to measure the relationship between the applied power pulse and the resulting compression ratio of the target. The experiments did not use fissile material, but an number inert heavy element (gold, tungsten, etc) to avoid contamination of the facility. The results were inconclusive however, due to challenges with the measurement equipment used to determine the compression ratio.
Media
The July 2003 issue of Aerospace Engineering (published by SAE Aerospace) had a brief article about the Mini-MagOrion program, and the pulse power experiments at Sandia National Laboratories. (Aerospace Engineering, SAEAerospace, July 2003, page 19, written by Kevin Jost) In addition, due to its close relationship to the original Project OrionProject Orion
Project Orion may refer to:*Project Orion was an engineering design study of spacecraft powered by nuclear pulse propulsion...
, the MMO concept continues to be discussed throughout the blogosphere.
External links
- Ralph Ewig, Dana Andrews, "Mini-MagOrion: A Pulsed Nuclear Rocket for Crewed Solar System Exploration", AIAA JPC July 2003.
- Dana G. Andrews, Roger X. Lenard, "Proposed Follow-on Mini-Mag Orion Pulsed Propulsion Concept", 42nd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, 9-12 July 2006.
- Roger X. Lenarda, Dana G. Andrews, "Use of Mini-Mag Orion and superconducting coils for near-term interstellar transportation", Acta Astronautica, Volume 61, Issues 1-6, June-August 2007, Pages 450-458.
- Ralph Ewig, "Mini-MagOrion", personal website of the program principal investigator