Welcome to Rocket and Space Technology. This Web page can trace its roots to the author's project to write a computer program simulating the launch of a rocket to orbit. As I performed my research it became apparent that most information on the subject tended toward one of two extremes: it was either too simplistic to be very helpful, or it was advanced texts written for engineers. I could find little information suitable for the space enthusiast who wanted to progress beyond the beginner level but who lacked the advanced math and science skills needed to understand the more complex texts.
Depending on 'stuff' - fusion may be only twenty years away...
Quote from: speedevil on 03/21/2018 03:54 pmDepending on 'stuff' - fusion may be only twenty years away...Fusion has been 20 years away as long as I can remember. The first time I was told 20 years away was by a nuclear scientist was in 1971 during a tour of the Gulf General Atomic facility in Torry Pines. It's been true ever since. Don't give up on the alternatives.
Depending on 'stuff' - fusion may be only twenty years away, and considerably better than ITER.http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/torchships.php - then becomes relevant - issues around nuclear propulsion, and ready-reckoner graphs for various performances. - this is an excellent talk on the problems with various fusion approaches, how to assess difficulties, which may inform a much more advanced predicate.ITER design was locked-in at a time when superconductors were lots less advanced than what's available off the shelf, and can now not be changed.Ignition - on the development of rocket propulsion, and the more exotic and problematic aspects, by John Clarke.https://library.sciencemadness.org/library/books/ignition.pdfhttps://beyondnerva.wordpress.com/2017/12/15/leu-ntp-nasas-new-nuclear-rocket-part-1-where-weve-been-before/Is a truly excellent resource on NERVA - nuclear fission rocketry.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fission-fragment_rocket - If fusion doesn't work, fission can lead to high performance drives too.http://www.rbsp.info/rbs/PDF/aiaa05.pdf - fission of electrostatcially confined dust particles, where the emitted radiation is directly used after magnetic steering to produce thrust.Also, for general physics help - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html
Thanks for all the replies, folks. Anyone got anything on hypersonic spaceplanes? I've got the bug bad. They're just so sexy-lookin'.