Daedelus Complete:
During the early 1970s, a team from the British Interplanetary Society carried out the world’s first serious engineering study of an Interstellar vehicle – Project Daedalus.
Daedelus in Flight:
Daedalus was conceived as a two-stage vehicle, which would attain a speed of 12 percent of the speed of light, for a 50-year voyage to reach Barnard's Star.
Daedelus and Saturn V:
Weighing in at 60,000 tons when fully fuelled, Daedalus would dwarf even the Saturn V rocket.
Daedalus Ignition:
The Daedalus spacecraft's spherical tanks contain the fuel pellets for the nuclear fusion engine.
Daedalus Beams:
Daedalus' Deuterium/Helium 3 fuel pellets are injected into the engine, where they are hit by electron beams, compressing them to the point that fusion occurs. Magnetic fields contain the expanding plasma.
Daedalus Fuel:
During Daedalus' two years of first stage engine firing, empty fuel tanks are jettisoned to reduce weight.
Daedalus Split:
Once all Daedalus' first stage fuel is consumed, the first stage is jettisoned and the second stage continues to accelerate for another 1.8 years – the vehicle now coasts, unpowered, for the remainder of the 50-year voyage.
Daedelus Second Stage:
Daedalus' second stage carries radio telescopes, 2 5m optical telescopes, 18 probes, two autonomous spacecraft known as Wardens, computers, power supplies and a Beryllium erosion shield.
Daedalus Flyby:
Daedalus' flyby of the target system would be over in a matter of hours, the data being relayed back to Earth, using the engine bell as a parabolic radio antenna.
Vacuum to Antimatter Rocket Interstellar Explorer System:
VARIES – Vacuum to Antimatter Rocket Interstellar Explorer System, is a concept from Richard Obousy that would use enormous solar arrays to generate power for extremely powerful lasers, which, when fired at empty space, would create particles of antimatter which could be stored and used as fuel. The process would be used at the vehicle's destination to create fuel for the return journey.
Daedalus Construct:
It was envisaged that the Daedalus starship would be constructed in orbit around the Jovian moon Europa.
Credit for the images and description goes to: Adrian Mann
Thanks a lot for reading and viewing this post. Click below to read other posts about the Spaceships of the Future and the Interstellar Travel.
Future Spaceships and Interstellar Travel - Part 1
Future Spaceships and Interstellar Travel - Part 3
Future Spaceships and Interstellar Travel - Part 4
Future Spaceships and Interstellar Travel - Part 5
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