Moon Fueled Nuclear Fusion Allen Jiang PhD Student | King’s College London | Robotics

Energy-Industrial Complex Charcoal – Bronze Age (2000BC) Charcoal – Bronze Age (2000BC) Coal – Industrial Revolution (1700s) Coal – Industrial Revolution (1700s) Oil – Petroleum Age (1900s) Oil – Petroleum Age (1900s) Nuclear Fission – Atomic Age (1950s) Nuclear Fission – Atomic Age (1950s) Renewable Energy – Modern Day Renewable Energy – Modern Day What’s next? What’s next?

Fusion is the future Energy from active stars, the most fundamental source of energy in the universe Energy from active stars, the most fundamental source of energy in the universe Counter to fission, it is clean and safe Counter to fission, it is clean and safe Extremely efficient Extremely efficient Flexible and sustainable Flexible and sustainable

Heavy water, tritium, and helium-3 – Deuterium, heavy hydrogen, hydrogen-2, 2D 1 Proton, 1 Neutron 1 Proton, 1 Neutron Abundant Abundant Stable, non-radioactive Stable, non-radioactive – Tritium, triton, hydrogen-3, 3T 1 Proton, 2 Neutrons 1 Proton, 2 Neutrons Rare, 225 kg world supply Rare, 225 kg world supply Radioactive, decays into Helium-3 (12-year half-life) Radioactive, decays into Helium-3 (12-year half-life) – Helium-3, 3He 2 Protons, 1 Neutron 2 Protons, 1 Neutron Rare (on Earth) Rare (on Earth) Stable, non-radioactive Stable, non-radioactive

Current Technology: Deuterium + Tritium reaction -> 17.6 MeV Future Technology: Deuterium + Helium-3 reaction -> 18.3 MeV Helium-3 + Helium-3 reaction -> 12.9 MeV

Current Progress International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) – Tokamak construction began in 2010 National Ignition Facility (NIF) National Ignition Facility (NIF) – Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory – October 2010 test – 1.5 MJ delivered to target by laser – 1.2 MJ required for fusion ignition (D-T)

The moon 1 million tons of He-3 on the lunar surface 1 million tons of He-3 on the lunar surface This amount will produce energy (D-He3) which is 10 times the amount of all of Earth’s fossil fuels, and 2 times the amount of all of Earth’s uranium This amount will produce energy (D-He3) which is 10 times the amount of all of Earth’s fossil fuels, and 2 times the amount of all of Earth’s uranium

Mining The 6 manned lunar landings brought back over 380 kg of rocks and soil The 6 manned lunar landings brought back over 380 kg of rocks and soil Bigelow Aerospace plans to launch its BA 330 module in 2014 Bigelow Aerospace plans to launch its BA 330 module in 2014 NASA has completed work on its new Space Exploration Vehicle NASA has completed work on its new Space Exploration Vehicle NASA’s Robonaut 2 is on board the ISS undergoing testing NASA’s Robonaut 2 is on board the ISS undergoing testing

Transport May 2010, NASA begins Project Morpheus, contracts Armadillo Aerospace for a lunar lander May 2010, NASA begins Project Morpheus, contracts Armadillo Aerospace for a lunar lander November 2010, Ad Astra Rocket Company runs test on VASIMR (Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket) November 2010, Ad Astra Rocket Company runs test on VASIMR (Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket) April 2011, SpaceX announced the Falcon Heavy April 2011, SpaceX announced the Falcon Heavy

Cost effectiveness The Apollo project cost $136 billion, and employed 400,000 people The Apollo project cost $136 billion, and employed 400,000 people NASA Apollo research provided a 33% return on investment through direct economics boosts to the USA NASA Apollo research provided a 33% return on investment through direct economics boosts to the USA A world’s supply of He-3 would generate $300 billion per year A world’s supply of He-3 would generate $300 billion per year

Challenges Public is wary of nuclear proliferation Public is wary of nuclear proliferation Space travel is too expensive Space travel is too expensive Energy today is already being fulfilled Energy today is already being fulfilled

Big picture Harvesting the moon for Helium-3 will: Provide ample clean, safe energy Provide ample clean, safe energy Create many new jobs Create many new jobs Advance research in new technology Advance research in new technology

“By exploring other worlds we safeguard this one. By itself, I think this fact more than justifies the money our species has spent in sending ships to other worlds. It is our fate to live during one of the most perilous and, at the same time, one of the most hopeful chapters in human history.” – Carl Sagan

Today, the foundation exists to achieve fusion, space travel, and beyond.

References rocket-moon-mars.html rocket-moon-mars.html me me ject_Apollo ject_Apollo magnetoplasma_rocket magnetoplasma_rocket