Space Business Podcast #99 Princeton Satellite Systems: Nuclear Fusion Propulsion

Space Business Podcast

Nuclear fusion propulsion. Do I have your attention? Probably ... after all, we need to get to places like Mars, and beyond, faster than on the current chemical rockets. There are now actually some startups working on nuclear fusion propulsion and one of them, Princeton Satellite Systems, are our guests this week. Enjoy!
JUST OUT: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO

Follow us:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/podcast_space

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen/

Instagram - www.instagram.com/raphael_space/

Learn more about space & the space economy:

• Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
• There is now a certificate for those wanting to enter the space sector: https://www.spacecertificate.com
• Do you want to specifically learn about investing in Space? Join the pre-release of Raphael's new live-taught course on Maven:
  https://maven.com/space-business-institute/investing-course

The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.

Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro 2:07 Elevator pitch 3:34 Future of space propulsion 5:13 Current state of fusion 10:16 Magnetic fusion 13:24 The FRC 16:47 Power budget 18:46 Terrestrial power generation use case 22:23 The Moon 25:03 What is left to do on the tech side 29:47 Timeline 31:01 Safety 33:15 In-space propulsion 36:44 NASA's past nuclear projects 37:54 Timing for prototype in space 42:43 Biggest obstacles 45:56 Beyond the current fusion engine proposal