Nuclear propulsion for Mars exploration - Electric versus thermal

Conference · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:7005369

Dailey, C L; Hieatt, J L; Lovberg, R H ^[1]

---

1. TRW Space and Technology Group, Redondo Beach, CA (United States) California, University, La Jolla (United States)

Preliminary thrust balance measurements of efficiency with the Pulsed Inductive Thruster have shown that efficiencies of 40 to 50 percent may be achievable in the I(sp) range from 4000 to 6000 sec for a throttleable thruster in which I(sp) can be changed in flight by varying propellant injection valve pressure. Effectiveness of this thruster in providing support for Mars exploration missions is examined, with mission performance expressed in terms of initial mass in low earth orbit (IMLEO) as a function of trip time. Results are compared for an 'all-up' crew transfer vehicle and a lighter vehicle supported by a cargo vehicle that predelivers both return propellant, and a Mars taxi used for crew return to the Mars park orbit. The same mission comparison is made for an advanced nuclear thermal rocket. The all-up nuclear electric vehicle is found to save 25 days round-trip time compared to the nuclear thermal vehicle at the same IMLEO. The nuclear electric cargo vehicle reduces crew transfer time by 25 days for the same total mission mass. For the nuclear thermal vehicle, cargo predelivery reduces crew transfer time by 45 days, bringing it to within 5 days of the comparable nuclear electric vehicle round-trip time. 2 refs.

• OSTI ID: 7005369
• Report Number(s): AIAA-Paper--92-3871; CONF-920747--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210600* -- Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC POWER
EVALUATION
MARS PLANET
MOBILE REACTORS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PERFORMANCE
PLANETS
POWER
POWER PLANTS
POWER REACTORS
PROPULSION REACTORS
REACTORS
SPACE FLIGHT
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THRUSTERS
WEIGHT