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Atmospheric Mining in the Outer Solar System: Aerial Vehicle Mission and Design IssuesAtmospheric mining in the outer solar system has been investigated as a means of fuel production for high energy propulsion and power. Fusion fuels such as Helium 3 (3He) and deuterium can be wrested from the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune and either returned to Earth or used in-situ for energy production. Helium 3 and deuterium were the primary gases of interest with hydrogen being the primary propellant for nuclear thermal solid core and gas core rocket-based atmospheric flight. A series of analyses were undertaken to investigate resource capturing aspects of atmospheric mining in the outer solar system. This included the gas capturing rate, storage options, and different methods of direct use of the captured gases. While capturing 3He, large amounts of hydrogen and 4He are produced. With these two additional gases, the potential for fueling small and large fleets of additional exploration and exploitation vehicles exists. The mining aerospacecraft (ASC) could fly through the outer planet atmospheres, for global weather observations, localized storm or other disturbance investigations, wind speed measurements, polar observations, etc. Analyses of orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs), landers, and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) mining factories are included. Preliminary observations are presented on near-optimal selections of moon base orbital locations, OTV power levels, and OTV and lander rendezvous points.
Document ID
20150023027
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Palaszewski, Bryan (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Date Acquired
December 15, 2015
Publication Date
July 1, 2015
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN25320
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference
Location: Orlando, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: July 27, 2015
End Date: July 29, 2015
Sponsors: Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Society for Electrical Engineers
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 432938.08.01.03.03
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
orbital mechanics
nuclear propulsion
Outer planets
Chemical propulsion
Moon base
ISRU

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