Conceptual studies on the integration of a nuclear reactor system to a manned rover for Mars missions. Final Report, Feb. 1989 - Nov. 1990

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5177852

El-genk, M S; Morley, N J

Multiyear civilian manned missions to explore the surface of Mars are thought by NASA to be possible early in the next century. Expeditions to Mars, as well as permanent bases, are envisioned to require enhanced piloted vehicles to conduct science and exploration activities. Piloted rovers, with 30 kWe user net power (for drilling, sampling and sample analysis, onboard computer and computer instrumentation, vehicle thermal management, and astronaut life support systems) in addition to mobility are being considered. The rover design, for this study, included a four car train type vehicle complete with a hybrid solar photovoltaic/regenerative fuel cell auxiliary power system (APS). This system was designed to power the primary control vehicle. The APS supplies life support power for four astronauts and a limited degree of mobility allowing the primary control vehicle to limp back to either a permanent base or an accent vehicle. The results showed that the APS described above, with a mass of 667 kg, was sufficient to provide live support power and a top speed of five km/h for 6 hours per day. It was also seen that the factors that had the largest effect on the APS mass were the life support power, the number of astronauts, and the PV cell efficiency. The topics covered include: (1) power system options; (2) rover layout and design; (3) parametric analysis of total mass and power requirements for a manned Mars rover; (4) radiation shield design; and (5) energy conversion systems.

• Research Organization: New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5177852
• Report Number(s): N-91-27939; NASA-CR--185841; NAS--1.26:185841; CNN: NAG3-992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140600* -- Solar Energy-- Photovoltaic Power Systems
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210600 -- Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300501 -- Fuel Cells-- Design & Development
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330300 -- Advanced Propulsion Systems-- Electric-Powered Systems
BRAYTON CYCLE
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENGINES
EQUIPMENT
FUEL CELLS
HEAT ENGINES
MARS PLANET
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
PLANETS
POWER PLANTS
POWER SUPPLIES
REGENERATIVE FUEL CELLS
SHIELDING
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SPECIFICATIONS
STIRLING ENGINES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
VEHICLES