Post on 06-Apr-2018
transcript
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
1/25
INTRODUCTION
The history of antimatter begins with a young physicist named Paul A.M.Dirac (1902-1984)
and the strange implications of a mathematical equation. This British physicist formulated a
theory for the motion of the electrons in electric and magnetic fields. Such theories had been
formulated before, but what was unique about Diracs was that his included the effects of
Einsteins Special Theory of Relativity. This theory was formulated by him in 1928.Mean while
he wrote down an equation, which combined quantum theory and special relativity, to describe
the behavior of the electron. Diracs equation won him a Nobel prize in I 933,but also posed
another problem; just at the equation x2 = 4 can have two solutions (x 2, x = -2). So Diracs
equation would have two solutions, one for an electron with positive energy, and one for an
electron with negative energy. This led theory led to a surprising prediction that the electron
must have an antiparticle having the same mass but a positive electric charge.
1n1932, Carl Anderson observed this new particle experimentally and it was named positron
This was the first known example of antimatter. In 1955, the anti proton was produced at the
Berkeley Bevatron, and in 1995, scientists created the first anti hydrogen atom at the CERN
research facility in Europe by combining the anti proton with a positron Diracs equation
predicted that all of the fundamental particles in nature must have a corresponding
Antiparticle. In each case, the masses of the particle and anti particle are identical and other
properties are nearly identical. But in all cases, the mathematical signs of some property are
reversed. Anti protons, for example have the same mass as a proton, but the opposite electric
charge.
Since Diracs time, scores of these particle-antiparticle pairings have been observed. Even
particles that have no electrical charge such as the neutron have anti particle.
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology1
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
2/25
ANTIMATTER PRODUCTION
Anti protons do not exist in nature and currently are produced only by energetic particle
collision conducted at large accelerator facilities (e.g. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory,
Fermi Lab, in US or CERN in Geneva, Switzerland). This process typically involves
accelerating protons to relativistic velocities (very near to speed of light) and slamming them
into a metal (e.g. Tungsten) target. The high-energy protons are slowed or stopped by collisions
with nuclei of the target; the kinetic energy of the rapidly moving protons is converted into
matter in the form of various subatomic particles, some of which are anti protons. Finally, the
anti protons are electro magnetically separated from the other particles, then they are captured
and cooled (slowed) by a Radio-Frequency Quadrapole (RFQ) linear accelerator (operated as a
decelerator) and then stored in a storage cell called as a Penning Trap.
Note that anti protons annihilate spontaneously when brought into contact with normal matter
thus they must be stored and handled carefully. Currently the highest anti proton production
level is in the order of nano-grams per year.
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology2
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
3/25
ANTIMATTER STORAGE
As we know that the antiprotons annihilate spontaneously when brought into Contact with
normal matter, thus, they must be contained by electromagnetic fields in high vacuums. This
greatly complicates the collection, storage and handling of antimatter. Thus, just after the
production of antiproton they are captured and cooled by a RFQ linear accelerator and then
stored as gaseous plasma of negatively charged antiprotons. The storage cell is called a
Penning trap; it uses magnetic fields to trap charged particles.- These are under development by
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Pennsylvania State University (PSU) fore use in
particle physics research experiments.
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology3
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
4/25
However, the storage density of an antiproton plasma in a penning trap is too low to be feasible
for propulsion applications where all of the propulsive energy is derived from matter-antimatter
annihilation. Thus, it is necessary to convert the anti protons into a high-density storage form
such as solid antihydrogen. To do this, positive antielectrons are combined with negative anti
protons to form antihydrogen atoms. This is done in a Paul Trap, which uses oscillating electric
and magnetic fields to trap neutral particles (such as atoms). The atoms are then allowed to
combine to form molecules possibly as clusters of ions and molecules; then the molecules are
cooled to form a solid. Unfortunately, currently only the antiatom production step has been
demonstrated. Still the remaining steps that is conversion of antiprotons to anti atoms to anti
molecules to anti solid H2 has to be demonstrated; this represents one of the major feasibility
issues associated with antimatter propulsion.
PORTABLE ANTIPROTON PENNING TRAP
The picture below shows a schematic and actual photo of the portable antiproton Penning Trap
being developed by Pennsylvania State University (PSU). The Penning Trap was completed in
1996. It is designed to hold 1010 antiprotons. In late 1997, the Penning Trap will be filled
with antiprotons at CERN (Geneva, Switzerland) and transported to the Air Force Phillips
Laboratory SHIVA-STAR facility at Kirkland AFB, where a demonstration of antiproton-
catalyzed micro-fission (but not fusion) is planned for 1997-98. An improved Penning Trap
(with higher capacity) will be assembled in 1998, and used for a demonstration of antiproton-
catalyzed micro-fission and fusion in 1999-2000.
The actual antiproton storage compartment is kept at liquid helium temperatures so as to keep
the antiprotons cool (i.e., so that they wont have enough kinetic energy to escape the
confining magnetic fields provided by the Traps permanent magnets). Thus, the Trap design
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology4
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
5/25
provides for a large outer insulating liquid nitrogen and inner liquid helium volume to permit
trips of several days without cryogen refill.
Finally, note that there is minimal hazard from transporting this small amount of antimatter:
1010 proton-antiproton annihilations, with an annihilation energy content of I .8x 1016 Joules
per kg (0f proton plus antiproton total mass), would only release 0.6 Joules (0.14 calories), or
the energy required to heat one drop (1/20 ml) of water 2.8C.
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology5
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
6/25
ANTI-MATTER PROPULSION
Matter Anti-matter propulsion offers the highest possible physical energy density of any known
reaction substance. The ideal energy density (E = mc2) of 9 x 1016 J/Kg is order of magnitude
greater than chemical (lx 107 J/Kg), fission (8 x 1013 J/Kg) or even fusion (3 x 1014 i/Kg)
reactions. Additionally, the matter antimatter annihilation proceeds spontaneously, therefore not
requiring massive or complicated reactor systems. These properties make antimatter very
attractive for propulsive ambitious space missions. This section describes antimatter propulsion
concepts in which matter antimatter annihilation provides all of the propulsive energy.
Once produced and stored, antimatter can annihilate with normal matter to produce energy for
propulsion. The annihilation produces tremendous energy in the form of energetic, unstable
charged and neutral sub atomic particles (mostly pions,p). Note that for a propulsion
application, proton antiproton annihilation is preferred over electron positron annihilation
because the products of proton antiproton annihilation are charged particles that can be confined
directed magnetically so as to transfer their energy to propulsive working fluid like normal
H2. By contrast, electron-positron annihilation produces only high-energy gamma rays, which
do not couple their energy efficiently to a working fluid. Thus, in the annihilation of proton
(p+) and the antiproton (p-), the products include neutral and charged pions (p0, p+, p-). In this
case, the charged ions can be trapped and directed by magnetic fields to produce thrust
However, pions do possess mass, so not all of the proton antiproton mass is converted into
energy. This results in an energy density of the proton antiproton reaction of only 1.8 x l0l6J/Kg.
To implement an antimatter rocket engine, the three main components required are antimatter
storage system, feed system and thruster. In this fig. the antimatter is stored in the form of solid
pellets of anti hydrogen. A high-density form of antimatter is required because storage as
gaseous plasma in a Penning Trap is limited to about 1010 particles per cubic centimeter; the
volume of 10mg of antimatter would be equivalent to 40 space shuttle cargo bays.
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology6
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
7/25
However storage as a solid requires low temperature to prevent sublimation of the pellets.
Gaseous antihydrogen could not be contained; only the solid (or liquid) is diamagnetic and can
be levitated by a magnetic field. Also, very high- quality vacuum in the storage chamber is
required to prevent residual normal matter gas annihilating on the solid antihydrogen pellets
For eg. , in the image, both a vacuum pump and a series of air lock doors are required to prevent
gas from the thruster entering the storage chamber. Finally normal hydrogen is used as the
propellant working fluid; an excess of hydrogen is used such that the annihilation energy
between a small amount of antihydrogen and normal hydrogen heats a large mass of normal
hydrogen. This annihilation is accomplished inside the thruster.
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology7
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
8/25
ANTIMATTER THRUSTER CONCEPTS
There are four basic antimatter thruster concepts to harness matter antimatter annihilation
energy for propulsion. They are the solid-core, gas-core, plasma-core and beam-core thrusters.
The solid-core thruster is similar in concept to nuclear rocket. Antiprotons annihilate inside a
solid core heat exchanger made of tungsten or graphite. The annihilation heats the core, which
in turn heats hydrogen propellant flowing through the core. The heated 142 then expands
through a conventional nozzle to produce thrust. This device is very efficient and produces high
thrust, but the specific impulse is limited to less than 1000 lbf-s/lbm due to material constraints.
In the gas-core device, antimatter is annihilated directly in the H2 propellant to be exhausted
Magnetic fields are used to contain only the energetic charged pions (p+, p-) which spiral into
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology8
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
9/25
the H2 gas to heat it. The heated 1-12 is then expanded through a conventional rocket engine
The device is less effective or less efficient than the solid-core concept but could possibly
achieve higher specific impulse in the range up to 2500 lbf-s/lbm.
The plasma-core thruster, which is similar to earlier one but operates by annihilating larger
amounts of antimatter in H2 to produce hot plasma. The plasma is confined in a magnetic bottle
configuration, which also contains the energetic charged pions, which heat the plasma. To
produce thrust, the heated plasma is then exhausted through one end of the magnetic bottle
Since this device uses magnetic fields for plasma confinement, it is not limited in temperature
by material melting points. It can therefore achieve much higher specific impulse in the range of
5000 to 100,000 Ibf-sllbm at useful thrust levels.
Lastly, the beam-core thruster employs a diverging magnetic field just upstream of the
annihilation point between the antimatter and low density H2. The magnetic field is then
directly focuses the energetic charged pions as the as the exhausted propellants. Thus the
charged pions are traveling close to the speed of light, the specific impulse of the device could
possibly range as high as l0 lbfs/Ibm, but at very low thrust levels.
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology9
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
10/25
ANTIMATTER ROCKET FOR INTERSTELLAR MISSIONS
This image represents an antimatter rocket with a beam-core thruster. The long length of the
vehicle is required due to the lona distance that the proton antiproton annihilation products
travel (because the decay products are moving at nearly the speed of light). For eg the initial
proton antiproton annihilation produces, on an average 1.6 neutral (p) and 3.2 charged
pions (p, p)
P+ + P- 1.6pO 3.2p+, p-
The neutral pion rapidly decays into high-energy gamma rays (g), which are effectively useless
for propulsion
p2gThe charged pions, on the other hand, have a longer life time and travel on the order of 21 m
before decaying into charged muons (i, f) and neutrons (n); the charged muons travel an
additional 1.85km before decaying into electrons (e or positrons (e and neutrinos.
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology10
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
11/25
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
12/25
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT FUSION (ICF) PROPULSION
Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) requires high-power lasers or particle beams to compress and
heat a pellet of fusion fuel to fusion ignition conditions. In operation, the pellet of fusion fuel
(typically deuterium-tritium, D-T) is placed at the locus of several high-power laser beams or
particle beams. The lasers or particle beams simultaneously compress and heat the pellet
Compression of the pellet is accomplished by an equal and opposite reaction to the outward
explosion of the surface pellet material. Heating of the pellet results from both the compression
and the inputted laser energy (or particle-beam kinetic energy). The pellets own inertia is
theoretically sufficient to confine the plasma long enough so that a useful fusion reaction can be
sustained; hence this fusion reaction is inertially confined.
Unfortunately, from a spacecraft perspective, lasers and particle beam ICF implosion drivers
are heavy, electric-power intensive systems. In an attempt to avoid these drawbacks, several
alternative concepts have been proposed. One simple solution is to take the lasers off of the
vehicle and place them in a remote location (e.g., Earth orbit) and beam the laser energy to the
vehicle. Several chemical drivers have also been considered. For example, high-energy
chemical explosives or high energy density matter (FDM) metastable species (e.g., metaslable
helium) could be applied to the surface of the fusion fuel pellet and triggered to produce an
implosion. Also, macroscopic kinematic dnvers (basically high-speed hammers) have been
modeled. Finally, the most exotic approach is a variation on the Interstellar Ramjet; in this
concept, fusion fuel pellets are fired (from Earth orbit using a mass driver or rail gun) Out ahead
of the vehicle. At sufficiently high speeds, the relative velocity of impact between the vehicle
and the pellet is sufficient to cause ignition.
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology12
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
13/25
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology13
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
14/25
VISTA SPACECRAFT
The inertial confinement fusion (ICF) reaction can e used to provide useful thrust for space
travel. This has been proposed in .5 concept called VISTA (Vehicle for Interplanetary Space
Transport Applications). (A closely related concept uses a small amount of antimatter to trigger
a micro-fission/fusion reaction.) In the VISTA ICF propulsion concept. a fraction of the fusion
reaction energy produced is converted to electric power and u5ed to operate the laser (or
particle beam) pellet implosion driver modules. A super conducting ring magnet at the base of
the cone produces a magnetic nozzle, which directs the flow of the fusion plasma debris to
produce thrust. The fusion pulse occurs at the apex of a 500 half-angle cone. The unique
hollow-cone configuration of the vehicle is chosen so that a ring-shaped radiation shield 15-rn
from the apex protects the rest of the vehicle in a conical radiation shadow.
The below image illustrate the VISTA ICF spacecraft The red tubes are the driver lasers; the
white rectangular boxes between the lasers are the power processors. Mirrors used to focus
the laser light onto the fusion pellet are on the standoffs (the mirrors are just visible in the
picture). The VISTA hydrogen propellant tank is the ring-shaped bulge at the top of the vehicle
(base of cone). Above this are cylindrical habitat modules and conical aero shell (Apollo-
shaped) landers. Finally, note that the tethered astronaut (shown in the vehicle at Mars picture)
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology14
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
15/25
is grossly out of scale; the vehicle is on the order of 100 m tall and 170 m in diameter (at the
base of the cone)
VISTA (and all ICF systems) is operated in a pulsed mode. The VISTA vehicle sized for a fast
(60 day round trip) manned-Mars mission (100 metric tons [MT] payload) has a total weight of
5800 MT tons, of which 4100 MT is hydrogen expellant, and 40 MT is DT fuel. It produces ajet
power of 30,000 MW at 30Hz operation (30 DT pellets are ignited per second in the magnetic
thrust chamber), and a specific impulse of 17,000 lbf-s/lbm (166,600 m/s). This concept design
is based on assumptions regarding the success of present inertial confinement fusion research
efforts and on spacecraft technology expected to be available by the year 2020. The VISTA
study participants included Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Jet Propulsion
Laboratory (JPL), Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC), and Johnson Space Center
(JSC).
VISTA SPACECRAFT CONCEPT
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology15
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
16/25
DAEDALUS SPACECRAFT
The British Interplanetary Society conducted a design study to evaluate the feasibility of inertial
confinement fusion (ICF) propulsion for interstellar travel. The vehicle was called Daedalus and
was designed for an interstellar flyby with a total DV of 0.1 c. Daedalus was engineered as a
two-stage vehicle ith a total mass at ignition of 53,500 MT. The first stage carries 46,000 MT
of propellant and has a dry mass of 1690 MT; it produces a thrust of 7.5 x 106 N and has an
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology16
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
17/25
ignition rate of 250 pellets/second. The burn time is estimated to he about 2 years. The second
stage carries 4000 MT of propellant and has a dry mass of 980 Mg. Second-stage thrust is 6.6 x
105 N at an ignition rate pf 250 pellets second; its bum time is estimated to be about 2 years.
The final net payload is S30 MT. The specific impulse for each stage is approximately 106 lbf-
s/lbm (10 mis, or 0.03 c).
ANTIPROTON-CATALYZED MICRO-FISSION/ FUSION PROPULSION
Previous studies have identified fusion propulsion as an enabling technology. for rapid human
transportation within the solar system and potentially for interstellar missions. In particular,
fusion propulsion is especially attractive for fast round trip) piloted Mars missions. For
example, in the VISTA (Vehicle for Interplanetary Space Transportation Applications) study
an inertial co-.fteiflct1t fusion (ICF) propulsion system was found capable of performing a 60-
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology17
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
18/25
d round- trip Mars mission with a 100-MT payload. This type of performance is typical of
fusion rockets, although it requires large vehicles (1600-MT dry without payload, 4100-MT
of propellant), operating at high powers (30 GW and high Isps (17,000 lbf-s/lbm or 166,600
m/s).
An alternative approach to conventional VISTA-type fusion propulsion systems is the inertial-
confinement antiproton-catalyzed micro-fission fusion nuclear (ICAN) propulsion concept
under development at Pennsylvania State University (PSU). In this approach to ICF propulsion
a pellet containing Uranium(U) fission fuel and deuterium-tritium (D-T) fusion fuel is
compressed i lasers, ion beams, etc. At (he time of peak compression, the target is bombarded
with a small number (108-1011) of antiprotons to catalyze the uranium fission pr0Ce55. (For
comparison, ordinary U fission produces 2 to 3 neutrons per jsLOi1 by contrast, antiproton-
induced U fission produces 16 neutrons per fission. The fission energy release then triggers a
high-efficiency fusion burn to the propellant, resulting in expanding plasma used to produce
thrust. Significantly, unlike pure antimatter propulsion concepts which require large amounts
of antimatter (because all of the propulsive energy is supplied by matter- antimatter
annihilation), this concept uses antimatter in amounts that we can produce today with existing
technology and facilities. This technology could enable 100- to 130-day round trip (with 30-day
stop-over) piloted Mars missions, 1 .5-year round trip (with 30-day stop-over) piloted Jupiter
missions, and 3-year one-way robotic Pluto orbiter mission (all with 100 MT payloads).
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology18
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
19/25
Also, because much of the fusion ignition energy comes from the initial fission reaction, it may
be possible to employ smaller or simpler pellet compression drivers (e.g., particle beams
lasers, etc.) than those considered for a conventional ICF system where all of the fusion
ignition energy is derived from the compression process. Similarly, it may also be possible to
use difficult-to- ignite aneutronic fuels like D-He3. For example, recent simulations of D-He3
versus D-T antiproton-catalyzed micro-fission/fusion have shown that although neutron energy
yields are reduced by a factor of 5 using D-He3, the fusion energy yield is 12 times smaller than
that with D-T due to the slow burn rate of the DHe3 target (which allows time for disassembly
of the target before it can be consumed). However, neutron flux with D-He3 may result in
reductions in overall vehicle mass (due to decreased shielding, waste-heat control, etc
requirements) may compensate for the reduced fusion energy yield.
Concept
I Uranium (or Pu) enriched DT .(or D-He3) pellet compressed (by ions, lasers, etc.)
2.At the time of peak compression, the target is bombarded with a small number.
(-..108) of antiprotons to catalyze fission.
3. The fission energy release triggers a high-efficiency fusion burn to heat the
Propellant.
4. Resulting expanding plasma used to produce thrust.
Features
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology19
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
20/25
I. Uses s small amount of antimatter - an amount that we can produce today with
existing technology and facilities.
2. Mission benefits of 120-day Earth-Mars round trip.
3. Potential benefits of easier drivers/aneutronic fuels.
Feasibility Issues
1. Pellet implosion dynamics
2. Fission bum up (number of antiprotons needed)
3. Fus ion ignition and bum (total gain)
4. Transfer of fission/fusion energy to propellant
5. Transfer of propellant energy to vehicle
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology20
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
21/25
ICAN PROPULSION VEHICLE
The following picture shows the inertial-confinement antiproton-catalyzed micro- fission/fusion
nuclear (ICAN) propulsion concept vehicle, which employs the antiproton-catalyzed micro-
fission/fusion concept under development at Pennsylvania State University (PSU). (This is the
second and most recent configuration, thus it is called ICAN-Il.)
The system has several similarities to the ORION pulsed fission propulsion concept because
each micro-fission/fusion explosion releases an energy equivalent to 20 tons of TNT. Thus, ashock absorber system is used to couple
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology21
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
22/25
the propulsive pulses to the rest of the vehicle. Also in this configuration, the antiprotons are
contained in storage rings (essentially recreating) on a small scale the large storage rings at
FermiLab or (CERN). Finally, the crew compartments are located as far as possible from the
fission/fusion reaction to minimize shielding requirements. (The crew compartments are also
spun to provide artificial gravity.)
ICAN PROPULSION VEHICLE ENGINE
The above picture shows the engine portion of the inertial confinement antiproton-catalyzed
micro-fission/fusion nuclear (JCAN) propulsion concept vehicle, which employs the antiproton
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology22
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
23/25
catalyzed micro-fission/fusion concept under development at Pennsylvania State University.
(This is the second and most recent configuration, thus it is called ICAN II).
The system has several similarities to inertial confinement fusion (ICF) propulsion concepts.
For example, there is a particle beam (rather than laser- beam) driver that compresses the
micro-fission/fusion pellet prior to injection of antiprotons. After the micro-fission/fusion
explosion which releases an energy equivalent to 20 tons of TNT, the expanding plasma ablates
a layer of lead on the inside cup of the thrust chamber. In fact, most of the total propellant
mass is lead. Lead is used so as to efficiently capture the energy released the micro-
fission/fusion explosion (which is in the form of-various, forms of high-energy photons and
particles) and convert this energy into directed propulsive thrust.
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology23
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
24/25
ADVANTAGES
I. When antimatter comes into contact with normal matter, these equal but opposite particle
collides to produce an explosion emitting pure radiation. This explosion transfers the entire
mass of both objects into energy, which is believed to be more powerful than any that can be
generated by other propulsion system.
II. In ICAN propulsion vehicle, a small amount of antimatter is used to trigger the micro-
fission/fusion reaction. Thus the antimatter acts as a catalyst to drive another reaction.
LIMITATIONS
I. As we know that antiprotons annihilate spontaneously when brought into contact with normal
matter, thus they must be contained by electromagnetic fields in high vacuums. This greatly
complicates the collections, storage and handling of antimatter. Thus storage is the greatest
limitation.
II. Finally, current production technology has an energy efficiency of about an order of
nanograms per year. This is very small compared to the mission propulsion requirement for
antimatter, which requires milligrams of antimatter for simple orbit transfer maneuvers and up
to tons of kilograms of antimatter for near star interstellar flybys.
HI. During the matter anti-matter annihilation, some amount of gamma rays is produced. These
rays are harmful to the onboard passengers/crews traveling in it. Research is going on to rectify
it.
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology24
8/3/2019 Matter Anti-matter Space Craft Propulsion
25/25
CONCLUSION
Currently, just 14 nanograms of antiprotons would be enough fuel to send a manned spacecraft
to Mars in one month. Today it takes nearly a year for an unmanned spacecraft to reach Mars.
Scientists believe that the speed of a matter- antimatter powered spacecraft would allow man to
go where no man has gone before in space. Meanwhile lots of research & studies are going on
to use the small fraction of antimatter available on earth (which where artificially produced) to
trigger the micro fission) fusion reaction in an ICAN propulsion vehicle. Anyhow, after some
decades it would be possible to make trips to Jupiter and even beyond the heliopause, the point
at which the suns radiation ends.