Asteroid redirection facilitated by cosmic ray and muon-catalyzed fusion
OwnerJerome Drexlerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Asteroid redirection systems are provided that use cosmic ray and muon-catalyzed micro-fusion. These systems include a micro-fusion propulsion system providing thrust for redirecting an asteroid, as well as micro-fusion electrical generation powering an ion drive. The systems deploy deuterium-containing fuel material as a localized cloud interacting with incoming ambient cosmic rays to generate energetic fusion products. Dust or other particulate matter in the fuel material converts some cosmic rays into muons that also catalyze fusion. The fusion products provide thrusting upon the asteroid, or when produced near turbines facilitates electrical generation, which can then power an ion drive.
Claims13
An ion thruster comprising:
- a source of deuterium-containing fuel material disposed on an asteroid surface;
- a reaction volume directed upward from the asteroid surface and open at the top;
- a flue coupled to the source and reaction volume for dispersing fuel material into the reaction volume;
- a set of turbines arranged around the reaction volume, wherein the set of turbines are directly exposed to the dispersed fuel material in the reaction volume a set of electrical generators coupled to the respective set of turbines to convert mechanical motion of the set of turbines into electricity;
- and
- an ion thrust engine powered by the generated electricity for producing thrust in a specified direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.