Prospects for Efficient Use of Annihilation Energy

Nuclear explosive spacecraft propulsion offers the high thrust and high specific impulse required for manned interplanetary missions. To achieve high velocity requires either long shock absorber or a large number of tiny nuclear explosions. Microexplosions are attractive, but presently conceived drivers are very massive. Antiproton induced microfusion/fission may provide a light-weight alternative. Generally the energy from antiprotons is deposited over such a large region of space that it cannot efficiently drive nuclear capsules. Antiproton induced fission and self-generated magnetic fields may greatly enhance energy localization.