Power considerations for an early manned Mars mission utilizing the space station
Power requirements and candidate electrical power sources were examined for the supporting space infrastructure for an early (2004) manned Mars mission. This two-year mission (60-day stay time) assumed a single six crew piloted vehicle with a Mars lander for four of the crew. The transportation vehicle was assumed to be a hydrogen/oxygen propulsion design with or without large aerobrakes and assembled and checked out on the LEO Space Station. The long transit time necessitated artificial gravity of the crew by rotating the crew compartments. This rotation complicates power source selection. Candidate power sources were examined for the Lander, Mars Orbiter, supporting Space Station, co-orbiting Propellant Storage Depot, and alternatively, a co-orbiting Propellant Generation (water electrolysis) Depot. Candidates considered were photovoltaics with regenerative fuel cells or batteries, solar dynamics, isotope dynamics, and nuclear power.
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center
- OSTI ID:
- 5788229
- Report Number(s):
- N-89-13492; NASA-TM-101436; E-4472; NAS-1.15:101436; CONF-8707205-; TRN: 89-008296
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Case for Mars 3 conference, Boulder, CO (United States), 18-22 Jul 1987
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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14 SOLAR ENERGY
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
SPECIFICATIONS
RADIOISOTOPE BATTERIES
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
MOBILE REACTORS
POWER PLANTS
POWER REACTORS
POWER SUPPLIES
REACTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
070300* - Isotopic Power Supplies
140600 - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems
140700 - Solar Thermal Power Systems
210600 - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable