Nuclear propulsion system options for Mars missions

Conference · Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:7232967

Emrich, Jr, W J; Young, A C ^[1]

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1. NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL (United States)

This paper focuses on the use of a nuclear thermal rocket to accomplish a variety of space missions with emphasis on the manned Mars mission. The particle-bed-reactor type nuclear engine was chosen as the baseline engine because of its perceived versatility over other nuclear propulsion systems in conducting a wide variety of tasks. This study indicates that the particle-bed-reactor engine with its high engine thrust-to-weight ratio (about 20) and high specific impulse (about 950 to 1050 sec) offers distinct advantages over the larger and heavier NERVA-type nuclear engines.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Huntsville, AL (United States). George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
• OSTI ID: 7232967
• Report Number(s): AIAA-Paper-92-1496; CONF-920373-; TRN: 92-027518
• Resource Relation: Conference: American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics (AIAA) space programs and technologies conference, Huntsville, AL (United States), 24-27 Mar 1992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
DESIGN
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
FLUIDIZED BED REACTORS
MARS PLANET
NERVA REACTOR
SPACE VEHICLES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
EVALUATION
FUEL DISPERSION REACTORS
GAS COOLED REACTORS
HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
HYDROGEN COOLED REACTORS
MOBILE REACTORS
PLANETS
POWER REACTORS
PROPULSION REACTORS
REACTORS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
VEHICLES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600* - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable