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Nuclear thermal propulsion transportation systems for lunar/Mars explorationNuclear thermal propulsion technology development is underway at NASA and DoE for Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) missions to Mars, with initial near-earth flights to validate flight readiness. Several reactor concepts are being considered for these missions, and important selection criteria will be evaluated before final selection of a system. These criteria include: safety and reliability, technical risk, cost, and performance, in that order. Of the concepts evaluated to date, the Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Applications (NERVA) derivative (NDR) is the only concept that has demonstrated full power, life, and performance in actual reactor tests. Other concepts will require significant design work and must demonstrate proof-of-concept. Technical risk, and hence, development cost should therefore be lowest for the concept, and the NDR concept is currently being considered for the initial SEI missions. As lighter weight, higher performance systems are developed and validated, including appropriate safety and astronaut-rating requirements, they will be considered to support future SEI application. A space transportation system using a modular nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) system for lunar and Mars missions is expected to result in significant life cycle cost savings. Finally, several key issues remain for NTR's, including public acceptance and operational issues. Nonetheless, NTR's are believed to be the 'next generation' of space propulsion systems - the key to space exploration.
Document ID
19930003175
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Clark, John S.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Borowski, Stanley K.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Mcilwain, Melvin C.
(GenCorp Aerojet, Sacramento, CA., United States)
Pellaccio, Dennis G.
(Science Applications International Corp. Albuquerque, NM., United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1992
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
NASA-TM-105870
E-7334
NAS 1.15:105870
Meeting Information
Meeting: Nuclear Power Engineering in Space Nuclear Rocket Engines Conference
Location: Kazakhstan
Country: Russia
Start Date: September 22, 1992
End Date: September 26, 1992
Sponsors: Research and Production Association LUCH Semipalatinsk
Accession Number
93N12363
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 593-71-00
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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