Enzmann starship

External image
Two Enzmanns in outer space
Artwork by space artist David Hardy

The Enzmann starship is a concept for a manned interstellar spacecraft proposed in 1964 by Dr. Robert Enzmann.[1][2] A three million ton ball of frozen deuterium would fuel nuclear fusion rocket engines contained in a cylindrical section behind that ball with the crew quarters.[2] It would be longer than the 449 m (1,473 ft) Empire State Building—the craft would be about 2,000 feet (600 m) long overall.[2]

The ball of frozen deuterium would fuel thermonuclear-powered pulse propulsion units, similar to Project Orion engines. The spacecraft would be assembled in Earth orbit as part of a larger project preceded by interstellar probes and telescopic observation of target star systems. The rest of the spacecraft would be attached behind the ball as a seamless metallic fuel tank. The proposed method of tank construction would be to expand a plastic balloon in space and coat it with metal.

The spacecraft would be modular, and the main living area would be three identical 300 feet (91 m) wide and long cylindrical modules.[3] The Enzmann could function as an interstellar ark, supporting a crew of 200 but with space for expansion.[1]

The Enzmann starship was detailed in the October 1973 issue of Analog, with a cover by space artist Rick Sternbach.[4] The spacecraft described in that issue had some differences compared to the 1960s proposal, such as using a 12,000,000 ton (11,000,000 tonnes) ball of frozen deuterium. Enzmanns have been depicted by many space artists including Don Dixon, David A. Hardy, Syd Mead, Bob Eggleton, and Rick Sternbach.

Sources conflict about the projected speed, perhaps 30% of the speed of light, c, but 9% may be more likely. At 30%, relativistic effects between people on Earth and on the spacecraft, such as time dilation would become more noticeable, such as the shipboard time being less than the Earth observed time.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Ian Ridpath - Messages from the stars: communication and contact with extraterrestrial life (1978, Harper & Row, 241 pages) = Google Books 2010, Quote: "As long ago as 1964, Robert D. Enzmann of the Raytheon Corporation proposed an interstellar ark driven by eight nuclear pulse rockets. The living quarters of the starship, habitable by 200 people but with room for growth, ..."
  2. 1 2 3 K. F. Long - Deep Space Propulsion: A Roadmap to Interstellar Flight (2011) - Page 189
  3. ↑ Analog science fiction/science fact, Volume 91, Issue 4, Page 22 (Google Books link accessed November 18, 2010)
  4. ↑ ISFDB Publication Listing: Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, October 1973
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