Project Orion: A Plan to Explore our Solar System

Connor Hoover English 202C 3/14/12

Audience and Scope

The purpose of this document is to give the reader a simple understanding of Project Orion type spacecraft. We will begin to look at nuclear pulse propulsion, parts of the spacecraft, and the advantages of this type of craft. Not many people have heard of this research and development project with its unorthodox form of propulsion. After reading this document the reader should have a better idea what Project Orion set out to do and be able to identify major components of the proposed craft. This document could appear in either high school or college level physics textbooks, introducing the students where physics and math could take them.

Project Orion: Gateway to New Worlds

A Project Orion spacecraft (Figure 1) is a proposed design for an interplanetary spacecraft utilizing nuclear pulse propulsion. This differs from the conventional rocket propelled spacecrafts used today, mainly in its fuel source. This craft uses nuclear explosives as its main fuel source to move itself through the void of space. A Project Orion class spacecraft is capable in theory of great distances our liquid or solid rocket boosters would ever dream of reaching, allowing for the exploration of the Final Frontier. This opportunity makes it crucial to understand what Project Orion proposes, how its designs work, and just how far it can take us.

Figure 1: Project Orion Class Spacecraft

Basics of Nuclear Pulse Propulsion

Project Orion was NASAs research into nuclear pulse propulsion technology. This form of propulsion uses nuclear explosives to create thrust. To do this a craft would be laden with nuclear devices (Figure 2),

preferably the same ones held in nuclear arsenals the world over, to detonate behind the craft. Using a form of shock absorbing system, the energy released in the explosions would be transferred through a momentum exchange to create the thrust of the ship. In theory, this form of propulsion produces high specific impulse values, a measure of the effectiveness of fuel consumed by a spacecraft. Specific impulse is equal the ratio of the thrust provided to the fuel consumed. A craft with higher specific impulse will therefore have a greater range than those with less efficient use of its fuel. For a comparison, the calculated specific impulse of an Orion craft is in the range of 6000 seconds, about twelve that of the Space Shuttles main engine (Figure 3).

Figure 2. Nuclear Pulse Device

Figure 3. Shuttle Main Engine

Orion Design
Project Orions main design aspect is that it uses the pusher plate method to capture the energy released by the nuclear pulses. This method is the use of a large, thick steel plate to both shield the craft from the radiation and fallout behind it and to also allow for the momentum transfer. The large plate, if positioned correctly in front of a channeled blast, will give the radiation and particles something to push against to propel the craft. In Figure 4 below, an Orion craft is broken down into three main parts:

Figure 4

Propulsion Module:

Now the propulsion module is where the nuclear pulse propulsion happens and is the most important part of the entire ship. This is because without it no thrust can be generated. Here two stages of are used to convert the energy from the nuclear explosives into thrust. Now, another important feature of this part of the system is a trap door in the middle of the pusher plate. This is where the nuclear bombs are deployed, each set to channel their blast towards the pusher plate. Propellant Magazines The propellant magazines section of the ship is almost self explanatory. This is where the nuclear bombs or nuclear pulse devices would be stored till needed to create thrust. The numbers of bombs needed or able to be stored on depends on the size of the ship Payload Module The last section of the ship is important for the destination or the overall mission undertaken by the craft. The payload of a spacecraft is the actual satellite, equipment, or humans being taken through space to the location desired by an exploration team. Now, conventional rockets can support some payloads over short distances, say to LEO or Low Earth Orbit, but an Orion craft can produce millions of pounds of tons of thrust with high specific impulses. Therefore Orion can support many different types of payloads.

Advantages
Size of Spacecraft The payload capacities of an Orion type spacecraft are much higher than that of conventional rockets. Even our manned Shuttle Missions that just came to their completion would only be an ant next to the sizes of an Orion craft. The table below shows three different sizes of crafts studied under Project Orion:

The Super Orion ship at 8 million tons mass is theorized as being able to support a city of up to 100,000 individuals. Thus it was often called the interstellar arc. Now these ships would be

massive engineering marvels if actually built, but are within our capabilities to manufacture today. Range of Spacecraft The range of an Orion spacecraft would give us the ability to explore our solar system, if not the immediate stars beyond it. Now, this type of craft theoretically travels at most around 3% of the speed of light, so interplanetary missions to Mars or a moon around Saturn are more feasible efforts for this project. Project Orion would be an ideal choice for these missions because conventional rockets would be too costly and hold significantly less energy than the nuclear pulse devices present in an Orion ship.

Disadvantages
Nuclear Radiation at Lift Off One problem with this form of propulsion is the radioactive materials causing nuclear fallout in the ships wake. The crew is shielded from these explosions, but the environment around the ship is not. This problem is most evident when trying to get the ship off the ground in lift off. Where on Earth can a nuclear explosion be deemed safe to be set off without damaging the surrounding area? This is why for political reasons; this project was put on hold. But, many groups have looked at this form of propulsion as the future in space travel.

Conclusion
Project Orion was the first study done on the use of nuclear pulse propulsion as a form of space travel method. A craft built to the specifications of this project would be capable of mind boggling things. The millions of tons of thrust produced with high specific impulses show that the future in interplanetary space travel lie in some form of nuclear propulsion systems. And from the technology present today, an Orion spacecraft would be an ideal choice. The project, while cancelled (by politicians), was an innovative project that showed alternate methods to propelling a spacecraft through the void. Project Orion looked to the future and let us hope that future is close on the horizon.

References Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Orion_(nuclear_propulsion) http://onionesquereality.wordpress.com/2008/02/22/death-of-a-project-project-orion/ Images: Figure 1: http://www.universetoday.com/15403/how-long-would-it-take-to-travel-to-the-nearest-star/ Figure 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nyrath/3681847354/sizes/m/in/photostream/ Figure 3: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/05/first_of_the_last_space_shuttl.html Figure 4:

http://onionesquereality.wordpress.com/2008/02/22/death-of-a-project-project-orion/