Editing Antimatter-catalyzed nuclear pulse propulsion (section)

==  Amount needed for thermonuclear device ==
The number of antiprotons required for triggering one thermonuclear explosion were calculated in 2005 to be 10<sup>18</sup>, which means microgram amounts of antihydrogen.<ref>{{Cite arXiv |eprint = physics/0507125 |last1 = Gsponer |first1 = Andre |title = Antimatter induced fusion and thermonuclear explosions |last2 = Hurni |first2 = Jean-Pierre |year = 2005}}</ref>

Tuning of the performance of a space vehicle is also possible. Rocket efficiency is strongly related to the mass of the [[working mass]] used, which in this case is the nuclear fuel. The energy released by a given mass of fusion fuel is several times larger than that released by the same mass of a fission fuel. For missions requiring short periods of high thrust, such as crewed interplanetary missions, pure microfission might be preferred because it reduces the number of fuel elements needed. For missions with longer periods of higher efficiency but with lower thrust, such as outer-planet probes, a combination of microfission and fusion might be preferred because it would reduce the total fuel mass.