The Moon and the Medusa - Use of Lunar Assets in Nuclear-Pulse-Propelled Space Travel

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Author - J.C. Solem

Co-Author(s) -

JBIS Volume # - 53

Page # - 362-370

Year - 2000

Keywords - Medusa, Orion, nuclear-pulse propulsion, lunar assets, Lagrange points

JBIS Reference Code # - 2000.53.362

Number of Pages - 9

[edit] Abstract

The detailed radiation hydrodynamics of an explosive wrapped with lunar regolith or lunar water is tractable only through numerical simulations, and only on a case-by-case basis. Qualitatively, regolith has a shorter mean free path for radiant heat, but also a larger ionization energy. It therefore sequesters a larger fraction of the radiation in ionization, but less material is required to absorb the radiant heat. Water represents the opposite properties, a smaller ionization energy and a longer radiation mean free path. Using these qualitative properties, the applications and performance of the two propellants are compared.


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