Since the first man-made satellite has orbited Earth in October 1957, the spacecraft are launched from Earth by using chemical propulsion rocket engines. Yet, many different engine designs and different propellant combinations later, the technology remains the same old chemical propulsion of internal reaction mass with an extremely low specific impulse due to a limited amount of fuel on board, although 90% of the spacecraft’s launch mass is fuel. The fuel-to-payload prohibitive ratio of this traditional propulsion technology makes space exploration expensive and rather restrained. To ensure regular delivery of cargo and people to the Moon, Mars and other destinations within our Solar system and beyond, to create and support permanent human settlements in space, millions of tons of cargo, and at some point, thousands or even millions of humans must be transported from/to Earth. It is clearly an impossible task to do this with chemical propulsion rockets. The required amount of energy for interplanetary flights can only be provided by nuclear power sources. A nuclear fission reactor is not suitable for the task as only the thermal energy of the reaction can be used. Basically, any modern nuclear power plant is just a good old steam engine with a nuclear fuel inside instead of coal, and an attached electric turbine. Low efficiency thermal conversion, large quantities of coolant are some of the major disadvantages of this power source in its current state. Heat dissipation in space vacuum is only achievable through thermal emission that requires massive radiators. A 500 MW nuclear power plant aboard of a 4-10-person spacecraft would require square miles of radiators. Our team’s invention, Electromagnetic Spacetime Continuum Propulsion System for Space Travel, Astrodrive, powered by a thermonuclear reactor, could be a real breakthrough solution to deep space exploration and national defense. Astrodrive electromagnetic propulsion system with unlimited specific impulse and unlimited fuel reserves, powered by Solar and/or Nuclear energy, is destined to become an essential space-based asset of the missile defense system. Trip to Mars could be achieved in a week. Travel to the edge of our Solar system could last only a few months. Interplanetary shuttle could become a near-future reality. Even the closest star systems are no longer unreachable. The new revolutionary propulsion system has been developed and tested, the nuclear power source is next.
Our technological innovations will take humanity to the stars, enable asteroid mining, provide access to the vast riches of the Universe. The Age of Spacefaring is truly upon us.
