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.
Claims34
A propulsion system for asteroids, comprising:
- one or more engines attachable to an asteroid, each engine having a store of deuterium-containing particle fuel material and means for directing the particle fuel material outward therefrom, the material interacting with an ambient flux of cosmic rays to generate products having kinetic energy;
- a controller coupled to all of the engines for coordinating the directing of particle fuel material such that the kinetic-energy-containing products generate thrust for the asteroid in a desired direction.
A method of asteroid propulsion for use in the presence of an ambient flux of cosmic rays, comprising:
- projecting successive packages of deuterium-containing particle fuel material in a specified direction outward from an asteroid surface, the material interacting with the ambient flux of cosmic rays to generate products having kinetic energy;
- and
- receiving on the asteroid surface at least some portion of the generated kinetic-energy-containing products to produce thrust upon the asteroid;
- wherein the deuterium-containing particle fuel material is successively projected from the asteroid in amounts and direction such that the thrust produces an acceleration of the asteroid with a specified trajectory.
A micro-fusion-driven ion thruster in the presence of ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons, comprising:
- a source of deuterium-containing micro-fusion particle fuel material disposed on an asteroid surface;
- a reaction volume directed upward from the asteroid surface;
- a flue coupled to the source and reaction volume for dispersing fuel material into the reaction volume;
- a set of helium-wind turbines arranged around the reaction volume, wherein cosmic rays and muons entering the volume from above interact with the dispersed fuel material to cause nuclear micro-fusion events, kinetic-energy containing micro-fusion products driving the helium-wind turbines;
- a set of electrical generators coupled to the respective helium-wind turbines to convert mechanical motion of the driven 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.