The rotating bed reactor as a power source for EM gun applications

Electromagnetic gun applications of the Rotating Bed Reactor (RBR) are examined. The RBR is a compact (∼ 1 m
³
), (up to several thousand MW(th)), high-power reactor concept, capable of producing a high-temperature (up to
\sim 3000\deg
K) gas stream with a MHD generator coupled to it, the RBR can generate electric power (up to ∼ 1000 MW(e)) in the pulsed or cw modes. Three EM gun applications are investigated: a rail gun thruster for orbit transfer, a rapid-fire EM gun for point defense, and a direct ground-to-space launch. The RBR appears suitable for all applications.