1. Direct
Fusion
Drive
For
Solar
System
Explora6on
The
Problem
Human
and
ambi6ous
robo6c
missions
are
too
expensive
and
take
too
long
with
exis6ng
propulsion
systems
The
Solu5on
Direct
Fusion
Drive
uses
a
revolu6onary
magne6c
confinement
and
hea6ng
system
with
helium-­‐3
fuel
to
produce
a
high
specific
power/low
radia6on
rocket
engine
AND
power
source.
It
is
ideal
for
the
1-­‐10
MW
engines
needed
for
advanced
space
missions.
Thrust:
5-­‐100
N
Ÿ
Isp:
5000-­‐50,000
sec
The
Team
Princeton
Plasma
Physics
Laboratory
&
Princeton
Satellite
Systems
-­‐
working
together
on
propulsion
since
1998
Contact:
Sam
Cohen
scohen@pppl.gov,
Stephanie
Thomas
sjthomas@psatellite.com
PFRC-­‐2
in
opera5on
at
PPPL
LSP
simula5on
of
magne5c
nozzle
−1.5 −1 −0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5
−1.5
−1
−0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
Y(AU)
X (AU)
Earth Orbit
Sun
Mars Orbit
Princeton Satellite Systems
DeltaV(km/s) = 50, Trip Time(days) = 310
Coast Trajectory
Burn Trajectory
Outbound
Inbound
DFD
space
freighter
concept
Mars
trajectory