Exploration of trans-Neptunian objects using the Direct Fusion Drive

Abstract

The Direct Fusion Drive (DFD) is a nuclear fusion engine that will provide thrust and electrical power for any spacecraft. It is a compact engine, based on the D -$^{3}$He aneutronic fusion reaction that uses the Princeton field reversed configuration for the plasma confinement and an odd parity rotating magnetic field as heating method to achieve nuclear fusion (Cohen et al., 2019), which will heat the deuterium, also used as propellant. \par In this work we present possibilities to explore the solar system outer border using the DFD. The objective is to reach some trans-Neptunian object, such as the dwarf planets Makemake, Eris and Haumea in less than 10 years with a payload mass of at least of 1500 kg, so that it would enable all kind of missions, from scientific observation to in-situ operations. For each mission a thrust-coast-thrust profile is considered. For this reason, each mission is divided into 3 phases: i. the spiral trajectory to escape Earth gravity; ii. the interplanetary travel, from the exit of Earth sphere of influence to the end of the coasting phase; iii. maneuvers to rendezvous with the dwarf planet. Propellant mass consumption, initial and final masses, velocities and $ΔV$ for each maneuver are presented. Calculations to reach a vicinity at 125 AU for the study of Sun magnetosphere as well as Eris via flyby are also presented, with interest on the influence of different acceleration phases. Our calculations show that a spacecraft propelled by DFD will open unprecedented possibilities to explore the border of the solar system, in a limited amount of time and with a very high payload to propellant masses ratio.