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Nuclear powered mars cargo transport mission utilizing advanced ion propulsion
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Galecki, Diane L. Patterson, Michael J. |
| Copyright Year | 1987 |
| Description | Nuclear-powered ion propulsion technology was combined with detailed trajectory analysis to determine propulsion system and trajectory options for an unmanned cargo mission to Mars in support of manned Mars missions. A total of 96 mission scenarios were identified by combining two power levels, two propellants, four values of specific impulse per propellant, three starting altitudes, and two starting velocities. Sixty of these scenarios were selected for a detailed trajectory analysis; a complete propulsion system study was then conducted for 20 of these trajectories. Trip times ranged from 344 days for a xenon propulsion system operating at 300 kW total power and starting from lunar orbit with escape velocity, to 770 days for an argon propulsion system operating at 300 kW total power and starting from nuclear start orbit with circular velocity. Trip times for the 3 MW cases studied ranged from 356 to 413 days. Payload masses ranged from 5700 to 12,300 kg for the 300 kW power level, and from 72,200 to 81,500 kg for the 3 MW power level. |
| File Size | 1331494 |
| Page Count | 29 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19870014259 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t7hq8tw26 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1987-01-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Spacecraft Propulsion And Power Mars Planet Nuclear Electric Propulsion Ion Propulsion Low Thrust Ion Engines Space Exploration Trajectory Analysis Cargo Spacecraft Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
