SP-100 nuclear electric propulsion for Mars cargo missions

Conference · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:5686848

Frisbee, R H; Hoffman, N J

This paper summarizes an evaluation of mission performance (in terms of vehicle mass and trip time) of the use of the near-term SP-100 reactor technology for nuclear electric propulsion for Mars cargo missions, and of the technology requirements for the propulsion and dynamic power conversion systems of the vehicle. The reactor power system uses dynamic power conversion (Rankine), and the propulsion system uses lithium-propellant magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters. Three reactor power modules are used to give a total bus power of 1.7 MWe. The total power, power conditioning, and propulsion systems specific mass is 24.8 kg/kWe; the propellant tankage factor is 2.8 percent. The power conditioning system has an efficiency of 90.2 percent and the MPD thrusters an efficiency (electric-to-jet) of 60 percent at a nominal specific impulse of 5000 lb(f)-s/lb(m). Rankine, Brayton, and Stirling dynamic power conversion systems were compared, and the Rankine was found to give the best performance in terms of smallest specific mass and volume; however, it has the longest development time requirement. 6 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5686848
• Report Number(s): AIAA-Paper--93-2092; CONF-930633--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210600* -- Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
COST ESTIMATION
DESIGN
ION PROPULSION
MARS SPACE PROBES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PERFORMANCE
PROPULSION
PROPULSION REACTORS
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
RANKINE CYCLE
REACTORS
RELIABILITY
SPACE VEHICLES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
VEHICLES