Radioisotope electric propulsion of sciencecraft to the outer solar system and near-interstellar space

Conference · Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1998

OSTI ID:658920

Noble, R J

Recent results are presented in the study of radioisotope electric propulsion as a near-term technology for sending small robotic sciencecraft to the outer Solar System and near-interstellar space. Radioisotope electric propulsion (REP) systems are low-thrust, ion propulsion units based on radioisotope electric generators and ion thrusters. Powerplant specific masses are expected to be in the range of 100 to 200 kg/kW of thrust power. Planetary rendezvous missions to Pluto, fast missions to the heliopause (100 AU) with the capability to decelerate an orbiter for an extended science program and prestellar missions to the first gravitational lens focus of the Sun (550 AU) are investigated.

• Research Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03000
• OSTI ID: 658920
• Report Number(s): FNAL/C-98/231; CONF-980697-; ON: DE98058384; BR: KA HEP; TRN: 98:011098
• Resource Relation: Conference: 2. IAA symposium on realistic near-term advanced scientific space missions, Aosta (Italy), 29 Jun - 1 Jul 1998; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1998
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCE TECHNOLOGY
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
ION PROPULSION
RADIOISOTOPE BATTERIES
ION THRUSTERS
PLUTO PLANET
GRAVITATIONAL LENSES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems