METHOD FOR BUILDING UP REACTIVE THRUST OF NUCLEAR ROCKET ENGINE Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear rocket engines. SUBSTANCE: method involves building up reactive thrust due to fission fragments ejected from engine nozzles and formed in engine core during resonant- fusion chain reaction in rarefied plasma of fissionable material. Deuterium and helium-3 are introduced in engine core to initiate fusion reactions between deuterium and helium-3 (D-³He) as well as between deuterium and deuterium (D-D) under effect of high-energy fissionable products to reduce amount of radioactive fissionable material burned in core and heat transfer to engine. Neutrons produced due to D-D reaction are used to reduce critical mass of fissionable material; high-energy charged products of fission reactions as well as fission products are used to build up reactive thrust. EFFECT: reduced amount of burned fissionable material at same and even higher power of engine. 1 dwg, 2 tb;