Nuclear fusion propulsion

Inertial Confinement Fusion
Direct fusion drive
Pulsed fission fusion (PuFF)
Z-pinch Fusion

Inertial Confinement Fusion

Inertial Confinement Fusion was one of the first type of fusion propulsion seriously proposed for deep space and even Interstellar missions. An initial theorethical model was proposed by Friedwardt Winterberg in the seventies. A British Interplanetary Society team, led by Alan Bond, did a detailled conceptual version of the idea in the mid eighties. Their Daedalus project report presented Daedalus, a two stage Interstellar vehicle capabe of travelling at 14% of the speed of light. In the US, Advanced Propulsion Committee member C.D. Orth proposed the Vista design in the late nineties and early 2000, with an inital design created for rapid Mars travel. Some papers explored more advanced versions that might be used for Interstallar travel.

Papers

Overview of the VISTA Spacecraft Concept Powered by Inertial Confinement Fusion	C.D. Orth	2000

Videos and images

Direct fusion drive

The Direct Fusion Drive (AKA Starfire) is a type of fusion drive being developed by Princeton Satellite systems for the future rapid exploration of the solar system. AIAA abd NFFPTC member Stephane Thomas helped develop this technology.

*A Starfire powered vehicle for Mars access (Credit: Princeton Satellite Systems)*

Papers

A Fusion-Propelled Transportation System to ProduceTerrestrial Power Using Helium-3 From Uranus	Stephanie Thomas Michael Paluszek	2023
Starfire: Fusion Power for Human Mars Missions	Layla M. Aboud Michael Paluszek Joyce Mo Sarah Fry	2025
Nuclear fusion powered Titan Aircraft	Michael Paluszek Annie Price Zoe Koniaris Christopher Galea Stephanie Thomas Samuel Cohen Rachel Stutz	2023

Link to most papers about the Direct Fusion Drive can be found here.

Fusion Aircraft — *Nuclear fusion powered Titan Aircraft, from the 2023 paper*

Videos

https://www.youtube.com/embed/vS4o7W3UP4M?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&start=15&wmode=transparentPrinceton Satellite Systems video on the work done for the Direct Fusion Drive.

Pulsed Fusion Fission drive

The pulsed Fusion Fission Drive is a drive combining fusion with a fission reaction in order to create a high impulse drive.

Papers

Developing the Pulsed Fission-Fusion (PuFF) Engine	Robert B. Adams Jason Cassibry Leo Fabisinski Geoffrey Statham	2014
Pulsed fusion fission NIAC phase 1 report	Robert B. Adams, Ph.D. Jason Cassibry, Ph.D. David E. Bradley Leo Fabisinski Geoffrey Statham, D.Phil.	2018
The Pulsed Fission-Fusion (PuFF) Engine: Development Status	Robert B. Adams, Ph.D.	2020
Continued Development of the Pulsed Magnetic Nozzle for the Pulsed Fission Fusion (PuFF) Vehicle	Robert B. Adams, Ph.D. NathanM. Schilling Jason T. Cassibry	2021

Videos

Z-Pinch fusion Drive

Design of Z-pinch and Dense Plasma Focus Powered Vehicles	Tara Polsgrove Sharon Fincher, Robert B. Adams Jason Cassibry Ross Cortez Matthew Turner Daphne Maples Janie N. Miernik Geoffrey N. Statham Leo Fabisinski John Santarius Tom Percy	2011

Flow Stabilized Z-Pinch Fusion Drive

The flow stabilized Z-pinch fusion drive is a derivative of the work of Uri Shumlak on Flow Stabilized Z-pinch fusion. This technology is beeing expored at this time as a power source for fusion reactors by Zap Energy

Papers

A Flow Stabilized Z-Pinch Fusion Space Thruster	Uri Schumak	2004