RESIDUAL-LOAD-PLUS-POWERPLANT WEIGHTS FOR ORBITAL-LAUNCH NUCLEAR ROCKETS

Technical Report · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961

OSTI ID:4008607

Johnson, P G; Miser, J W; Smith, R L

Charts are presented of residual-load-plus-power-plant weight as a function of thrust, specific impulse, initial weight in orbit, and mission energy for orbital-launch nuclear rockets. The initial weights range from 7,600 to 226,000 pounds (corresponding to Atlas-Centaur, Saturn, and Nova boost vehicles), and missions are selected to cover the approximate capability inherent in the specified weights. Thrust is varied so that thrust-to-initial-weight ratio lies between 0.01 and 1.0, while specific impulse is varied from 450 to 1,000 pounds per pound per second. Values of residual-load-plus-power-plant weight are computed by estimating the required weights of hydrogen propellant, tank., and vehicle structure. (auth)

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Lewis Research Center, Cleveland
• NSA Number: NSA-15-019080
• OSTI ID: 4008607
• Report Number(s): NASA-TN-D-843
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
ORBITS
PAYLOAD
PROPULSION
ROCKETS
SATELLITES
SPACE FLIGHT
THRUST