The document discusses different types of propulsion systems that could be combined to create an efficient engine for future space travel. It analyzes the fuel efficiency, thrust, cost, and fuel type of propulsions like the Merlin engine, VASIMR, laser photon propulsion, and hall thrusters. The proposed hybrid system is called LARP (Laser Arc Reactor Propulsion) and would combine laser photon propulsion with the VASIMR engine, utilizing the efficiency of lasers and unique plasma propulsion of VASIMR. It would be powered by a fusion reactor like the ITER tokamak, currently being developed to be the first fusion reactor with a positive energy output.

1. Propulsions of the Future
Rocket Boys: Griffin Conroy, Steven Catando,
Nicholas Georgiades

2. A Long Ride:
“Fail smart fast small cheap early and often”
( Dr. Camarda)
● We overcame many problems to get to get to our
solution,
-Had to rethink our whole project at one point.
-Hit dead ends to our data.

3. Research Question:
● Can we combine different types of propulsion to
have an efficient engine being key to the evolution
of space travel to Mars?

4. Why this Matters
● Creates opportunities for future space travel.
● Humans can benefit from additional technological.
advances due to improved technology.
● Benefits mankind, and our probability of survival in
the distant future.

5. Propulsion Efficiency:
The start of our project was to know the different
types of propulsions to create our own that will be
the most efficient.
-4 categories fuel efficiency, cost, thrust, fuel type
- 6 propulsions were put into a spreadsheet and
compared them in categories.

6. Merlin Engines 1D
-Developed by SpaceX, is a conventional engine.
-Currently used on Falcon Heavy 9
-Uses a (1st Stage) 9 engine configuration
-Uses RP-1, Rocket grade kerosene and Liquid
Oxygen

7. VASIMR
-Propulsion runs on plasma.
-Under development
-Has a magnetic based propulsion.

8. Laser Photon Propulsion:
● A theoretical propulsion system
● Laser as the engine that pushes a spacecraft
● Using photons reflected off a sail
● Distance affects the efficiency

9. Spreadsheet Results:

10. Fuel Type:Merlin Engines 1D
VASIMR
Engines
VX-200
Laser
Photon
Propulsion
Merlin
Engines
1D
Hall Thrusters
PPS-1350-E
SLS-RS-25 Rocketdyne F-1
Engine
Uses
radio
waves to
ionize and
heat the
propellent
Methanol Rocket-
grade
kerosene
(RP-1)
and liquid
oxygen)
Xenon Liquid
Hydrogen
Liquid
Oxygen
Liquid Oxygen/
Kerosene (RP-1)

11. Fuel Efficiency: SLS-RS-25
VASIMR Engines
VX-200
Laser Photon
Propulsion
Merlin Engines
1D
Hall Thrusters
PPS-1350-E
SLS-RS-25 Rocketdyne F-1
Engine
Having different
speed settings
makes it more
efficient being
able to save fuel
for situations
during a mission.
72%
Closer to laser =
more efficient,
optical cavities
improve
efficiency,,Instant
aneous Energy
Efficiency comes
when - (power
that goes into
direct kinetic
energy/ laser
power on
reflector) 50%
70%-100% fuel
efficiency
Using plasma as
a propellant along
with it being an
electric propulsion
system makes it
efficient. 45-60%
Screen reader
support
enabled.
109% (Power
Level) When
using a vacuum
thrust of 512,300,
and has a
pressure chamber
of 2,994 psi
60% at maximum
thrust which
would be about
1.5 million pounds

12. Thrust: Rocketdyne F 1 Engine
VASIMR
Engines VX-
200
Laser Photon
Propulsion
Merlin Engines
1D
Hall Thrusters
PPS-1350-E
SLS-RS-25 Rocketdyne F-
1 Engine
4.4N at 40%
efficiency =
0.989159 pounds
6.6 at 50 %
effciency
=1.48374 pounds
845 kilonewtons
(190,000 pounds)
of thrust at liftoff
Thrust 50% of
specfic Impulse
*The total impulse
is the product of
the thrust divided
by the running
time most models
operate between
15 and 30 km/s
(1,500–3,000 s
specific impulse)
which would give
it a thrust of about
10,000 pounds
512,000 pounds
of thrust
1.5 Million pounds
of thrust

13. Cost:$400 million
● Combined cost of VASIMR and Laser Photon
Propulsion
VASIMR
Engines VX-
200
Laser Photon
Propulsion
Merlin Engines
1D
Hall Thrusters
PPS-1350-E
SLS-RS-25 Rocketdyne F-
1 Engine
$210 Million a
year
Sail + payload
cost = 190
Million
$30 Million $5.7 Million $1.5 BIllion $69 Million

14. Introduction to our hybrid:
L.A.R.P. (Laser Arc Reactor Propulsion)
-This propulsion system will combine laser photon
propulsion and the VASIMR engine.
-Laser photon propulsion being energy efficient.
-The VASIMR engine having a unique propulsion.

15. Criteria:
-Hypothetical/Conventional.
-Combines multiple types of propulsion.
-Semi plausible.(Has to be realistic)

16. “Arc Reactor”:
A project being created by ITER a group formed by
China, the European Union, India, Japan, Korea,
Russia and the United States creating the largest
fusion reactor called Tokamak.
-This will be the first reactor that has a positive
power output.
Having an output of 500MW

17. Tokamak:

19. Thank you for your time.
Any Questions?

20. Works Cited:
Lubin, Philip. “Directed Energy for Relativistic Interstellar Missions.” Starlight, California
Space Grant, 2018, http://www.deepspace.ucsb.edu/projects/starlight
Lubin, Philip. “Extrasolar Travelers.” Experimental Astrophysics, UCSB Experimental
Cosmology Group, 2018, http://www.deepspace.ucsb.edu/projects/ets
Lubin, Philip. “UC Santa Barbara Laser Propulsion” UC Santa Barbara Deep Space, A
Roadmap to Interstellar Flight, 2018,
http://www.deepspace.ucsb.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Laser-Propulsion-
Classical-1D-Standalone.html
Lubin, Philip. “Wafer Scale Spacecraft” Experimental Astrophysics, UCSB Experimental
Cosmology Group, 2018,
http://www.deepspace.ucsb.edu/projects/wafer-scale-spacecraft-development