NASA Fusion Energy Space Missions 1991
Executive Summary
System Metadata
Source ID
DOC-NASA_FUS
Process Date
3/3/2026
Integrity Hash
SHA256-qa1vlsy37v...
Indexer Status
COMPLETE
INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS
Layman's Executive Summary
This NASA report evaluates the use of nuclear fusion as the primary power source for ambitious space missions, such as manned trips to Mars and travel to the nearest stars. It concludes that fusion energy is the only viable technology capable of providing the extreme speeds and power levels required for 21st-century deep-space exploration.
Document Origin
The document was authored by Norman R. Schulze of the NASA Office of Safety and Mission Quality in Washington, D.C., and published by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a Technical Memorandum.
Research Purpose
The research was conducted to establish the energy and propulsion requirements for high-velocity space missions (90 km/sec to 30,000 km/sec) and to identify the most promising energy source to advance the U.S. civil space program according to National Space Policy.
Relevancy Analysis
" This document directly validates the involvement of Norman R. Schulze, a key person in the existing Knowledge Graph, in high-energy propulsion research. It serves as a foundational bridge between public NASA mission planning and 'black' program interests in Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) and fusion-based aerospace technologies, establishing the technical performance benchmarks (100 GW power levels) required for non-conventional propulsion. "
Extracted Verifiable Claims
- › The document is identified as NASA Technical Memorandum 4298, published in August 1991.
- › The author, Norman R. Schulze, was affiliated with the NASA Office of Safety and Mission Quality.
- › The report specifies velocity change (delta-V) requirements for deep space missions ranging from 90 km/sec to 30,000 km/sec.
- › The analysis identifies required jet power levels for high-energy missions ranging from 10 MW to 100 GW.
- › The document states that fusion energy can provide a specific impulse of 5,000 to 1,000,000 seconds.
Technical Contribution
This document provides a formal NASA engineering baseline and strategic roadmap that explicitly designates fusion energy as the 'preferred option' for interstellar-capable propulsion, predating many modern commercial fusion efforts.