Nuclear rockets: High-performance propulsion for Mars

Technical Report · Sun May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10160494· OSTI ID:10160494

Watson, C. W.

A new impetus to manned Mars exploration was introduced by President Bush in his Space Exploration Initiative. This has led, in turn, to a renewed interest in high-thrust nuclear thermal rocket propulsion (NTP). The purpose of this report is to give a brief tutorial introduction to NTP and provide a basic understanding of some of the technical issues in the realization of an operational NTP engine. Fundamental physical principles are outlined from which a variety of qualitative advantages of NTP over chemical propulsion systems derive, and quantitative performance comparisons are presented for illustrative Mars missions. Key technologies are described for a representative solid-core heat-exchanger class of engine, based on the extensive development work in the Rover and NERVA nuclear rocket programs (1955 to 1973). The most driving technology, fuel development, is discussed in some detail for these systems. Essential highlights are presented for the 19 full-scale reactor and engine tests performed in these programs. On the basis of these tests, the practicality of graphite-based nuclear rocket engines was established. Finally, several higher-performance advanced concepts are discussed. These have received considerable attention, but have not, as yet, developed enough credibility to receive large-scale development.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 10160494
• Report Number(s): LA-12784-MS; ON: DE94013642
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: May 1994
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
42 ENGINEERING
ROCKET ENGINES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
MARS PLANET
SPACE FLIGHT
ROCKETS
EXPLORATION
DESIGN
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600
420200
POWER REACTORS, MOBILE, PROPULSION, PACKAGE, AND TRANSPORTABLE
FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNIQUES