Advanced nuclear rocket engine mission analysis
The use of a derivative of the NERVA engine developed from 1955 to 1973 was evluated for potential application to Air Force orbital transfer and maneuvering missions in the time period 1995 to 2020. The NERVA stge was found to have lower life cycle costs (LCC) than an advanced chemical stage for performing low earth orbit (LEO) to geosynchronous orbit (GEO0 missions at any level of activity greater than three missions per year. It had lower life cycle costs than a high performance nuclear electric engine at any level of LEO to GEO mission activity. An examination of all unmanned orbital transfer and maneuvering missions from the Space Transportation Architecture study (STAS 111-3) indicated a LCC advantage for the NERVA stage over the advanced chemical stage of fifteen million dollars. The cost advanced accured from both the orbital transfer and maneuvering missions. Parametric analyses showed that the specific impulse of the NERVA stage and the cost of delivering material to low earth orbit were the most significant factors in the LCC advantage over the chemical stage. Lower development costs and a higher thrust gave the NERVA engine an LCC advantage over the nuclear electric stage. An examination of technical data from the Rover/NERVA program indicated that development of the NERVA stage has a low technical risk, and the potential for high reliability and safe operation. The data indicated the NERVA engine had a great flexibility which would permit a single stage to perform all Air Force missions.
- Research Organization:
- EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (USA); Westinghouse Electric Corp., Madison, PA (USA); Martin Marietta Corp., Englewood, CO (USA); Rockwell International Corp., Canoga Park, CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-76ID01570
- OSTI ID:
- 5262548
- Report Number(s):
- EGG-M-41087; CONF-871274-1; ON: DE88006797
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: JANNAF propulsion conference, San Diego, CA, USA, 15 Dec 1987
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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A comparison of propulsion systems for potential space mission applications
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Related Subjects
NERVA REACTOR
MISSION ANALYSIS
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
ROCKET ENGINES
FUEL ELEMENTS
LIFE-CYCLE COST
ORBITS
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
REACTOR SAFETY
RELIABILITY
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
SPACE SHUTTLES
SPACE VEHICLES
AIRCRAFT
COST
ENGINES
GAS COOLED REACTORS
HYDROGEN COOLED REACTORS
MOBILE REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
PROPULSION REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
SAFETY
SPACE POWER REACTORS
TESTING
VEHICLES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
220800* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Propulsion Reactors