Re: Interstellar Propulsion idea using an Asteroid and a few comets!
From: Paul F. Dietz (dietz_at_dls.net)
Date: 08/30/04
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Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 07:00:47 -0500
Martin 53N 1W wrote:
> If you use fission, then quite a lot. You may well want to use a fast
> breeder reactor to reutilise spent fuel. You could jettison spent mass
> as you go along.
Why go to this complexity of a fast breeder when you could just
load the vehicle ahead of time with pure 235U?
You may want a scheme to reprocess unconsumed 235U, granted.
As for how much is needed...
The per capita primary energy consumption in the US is around 10 kW.
At this rate, a mass of 235U equal to the mass of a typical person
will last for more than 20,000 years. Of course the mass of the
passengers will be a small fraction of the mass of the ship, so
even if you assume the 10 kW figure is low the mass of uranium will
not be high.
Paul
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