Low-thrust /high-impulse/ nuclear and electric space propulsion systems
Low-thrust, high-impulse nuclear and electric space propulsion systems
Moeckel, W. E.↗
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Results for “Nuclear propulsion”
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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"Bimodal" Nuclear Thermal Rocket (BNTR) Propulsion for Future Human Mars Exploration Missions
The Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) Propulsion program is discussed. The Rover/NERVA program from 1959-1972 is compared with the current program. A key technology description, bimodal vehicle design for Mars Cargo and the crew transfer vehicle with inflatable module and artificial gravity capability, including diagrams are included. The LOX-Augmented NTR concept/operational features and characteristics are discussed.
Borowski, Stanley K.↗
Solar System Exploration Augmented by In-Situ Resource Utilization: Human Planetary Base Issues for Mercury and Saturn
Human and robotic missions to Mercury and Saturn are presented and analyzed with a range of propulsion options. Historical studies of space exploration, planetary spacecraft, and astronomy, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), and industrialization all point to the vastness of natural resources in the solar system. Advanced propulsion benefitted from these resources in many ways. While advanced propulsion systems were proposed in these historical studies, further investigation of nuclear options using high power nuclear thermal and nuclear pulse propulsion as well as advanced chemical propulsion can significantly enhance these scenarios. Updated analyses based on these historical visions are presented. Nuclear thermal propulsion and ISRU enhanced chemical propulsion landers are assessed for Mercury missions. At Saturn, nuclear pulse propulsion with alternate propellant feed systems and Saturn moon exploration with chemical propulsion and nuclear electric propulsion options are discussed. Issues with using in-situ resource utilization on Mercury missions are discussed. At Saturn, the best locations for exploration and the use of the moons Titan and Enceladus as central locations for Saturn moon exploration is assessed.
Lunar↗
Performance Optimization of the Gasdynamic Mirror Propulsion System
Nuclear fusion appears to be a most promising concept for producing extremely high specific impulse rocket engines. Engines such as these would effectively open up the solar system to human exploration and would virtually eliminate launch window restrictions. A preliminary vehicle sizing and mission study was performed based on the conceptual design of a Gasdynamic Mirror (GDM) fusion propulsion system. This study indicated that the potential specific impulse for this engine is approximately 142,000 sec. with about 22,100 N of thrust using a deuterium-tritium fuel cycle. The engine weight inclusive of the power conversion system was optimized around an allowable engine mass of 1500 Mg assuming advanced superconducting magnets and a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) end plug at the mirrors. The vehicle habitat, lander, and structural weights are based on a NASA Mars mission study which assumes the use of nuclear thermal propulsion' Several manned missions to various planets were analyzed to determine fuel requirements and launch windows. For all fusion propulsion cases studied, the fuel weight remained a minor component of the total system weight regardless of when the missions commenced. In other words, the use of fusion propulsion virtually eliminates all mission window constraints and effectively allows unlimited manned exploration of the entire solar system. It also mitigates the need to have a large space infrastructure which would be required to support the transfer of massive amounts of fuel and supplies to lower a performing spacecraft.
Emrich, William J., Jr.↗
Studies on the nucleothermal propulsion. estimation of a nuclear stage performance for a heavy european booster etudes sur la propulsion nucleothermique. estimation de performances d'un etage nucleaire pour lanceur lourd europeen
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Alder, R.↗
Transformational Propulsion for In-Space Fast Transits
NASA has ambitious mission objectives requiring much faster transits to and from Mars, interstellar probes and a gravity lens observatory. However, there has been very little investment in transformational propulsion system development activities since the 1970s. There have been dozens of concepts proposed for high acceleration propulsion solutions, but nearly all have been limited to paper studies. A quick assessment was completed in 2023 to determine the potential of transformational propulsion concepts to enable faster transits, with a focus on crewed missions to and from Mars. Far-term conventional nuclear thermal propulsion is limited to very modest improvement in transfer times. Advanced nuclear propulsion options have significant performance potential, but limited interim evolutionary payoff for NASA. Advanced electric propulsion, both solar and nuclear, offers transformational performance potential with high payoff during interim progress for power production, conversion, and heat rejection technologies. Study results and recommendations for near-term investments are presented herein.
Propulsion↗
Gaseous-fueled cavity reactors - Criticality calculations and analysis
Computer calculation of material, temperature, and dimensional variables on criticality and size of gaseous fueled cavity reactor for nuclear rocket propulsion
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY↗
The Use of Immersion Rigs for High Temperature Hydrogen Exposure Testing Within the Nuclear Thermal Rocket Element Environmental Simulator (NTREES): NTREES-5 Hydrogen Heat Exchanger (N5HHX-01)
The Nuclear Thermal Rocket Element Environmental Simulator (NTREES) facility at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) subjects materials and components typically found on nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) systems to non-nuclear simulations of prototypic NTP reactor thermohydraulic environments. With 1.2 MW of inductive power available, the currently employed methods to simulate nuclear heating in NTREES consist of 1) inductively heating a test specimen, which typically cannot be performed on ceramic materials, or 2) heating gas that envelops the test specimen. The latter of these has provided a basis for developing so-called “immersion rigs” to be used in NTREES. Furthermore, immersion rigs are especially useful in the case of smaller, technically challenging test specimens. One such device, the “NTREES-5 Hydrogen Heat Exchanger” (N5HHX-01), designed and deployed to test small material coupons to ~0.5 g/s of 2800 K, 500 psi Hydrogen, is discussed herein. To achieve this desired delivery temperature level, the most suitable material for the N5HHX’s construction was pure tungsten, which imposed budgetary and manufacturing challenges. Also discussed in this paper is the design of the N5HHX rig’s sample container, which became the first iteration of improving NTREES small material coupon test operations by permitting rapid changeout of different material samples.
Reactor Testing↗
Nuclear electric power and propulsion system for earth orbital and solar system exploration applications
This paper discusses the design of a Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) system, selection of thrusters and propellant. Outer planet exploration requirements are compared to earth orbital power requirements and a nuclear electric power system with a power level of 200 to 250 kWe is recommended. Current technology appears capable of accomplishing the early missions and growth potential exists for accomplishing more difficult later missions without significant changes in the basic system.
Phillips, W. M.↗
Low-earth-orbit to low-lunar-orbit laser freighter
The objective of this mission study was to compare laser propulsion to chemical LOX/H2 and nuclear electric propulsion for the specific mission of delivering a 144-metric ton lunar base from low-Earth-orbit to low-lunar-orbit. The basis of comparison was total mass in low-Earth-orbit needed to accomplish this mission. The Office of Exploration approach to establishing the lunar base was to use two vehicles: a nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) vehicle to deliver cargo and a chemical vehicle to deliver humans. The NEP vehicle was reactor driven with a vehicle dry mass of 125 metric tons. The Office of Exploration study did not use chemical propulsion for cargo, but in the present study it was used for cargo for comparison to laser propulsion. This mission study assumes a high-power laser, either nuclear or solar electric-driven diode laser, is in orbit around Earth, beaming power to a laser propulsion vehicle. Laser power is only used for the LEO escape burn; other much lower-power burns are done with LOX/H2.
Deyoung, Russell J.↗
Q-Thruster Breadboard Campaign Project
Dr. Harold "Sonny" White has developed the physics theory basis for utilizing the quantum vacuum to produce thrust. The engineering implementation of the theory is known as Q-thrusters. During FY13, three test campaigns were conducted that conclusively demonstrated tangible evidence of Q-thruster physics with measurable thrust bringing the TRL up from TRL 2 to early TRL 3. This project will continue with the development of the technology to a breadboard level by leveraging the most recent NASA/industry test hardware. This project will replace the manual tuning process used in the 2013 test campaign with an automated Radio Frequency (RF) Phase Lock Loop system (precursor to flight-like implementation), and will redesign the signal ports to minimize RF leakage (improves efficiency). This project will build on the 2013 test campaign using the above improvements on the test implementation to get ready for subsequent Independent Verification and Validation testing at Glenn Research Center (GRC) and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in FY 2015. Q-thruster technology has a much higher thrust to power than current forms of electric propulsion (~7x Hall thrusters), and can significantly reduce the total power required for either Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) or Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP). Also, due to the high thrust and high specific impulse, Q-thruster technology will greatly relax the specific mass requirements for in-space nuclear reactor systems. Q-thrusters can reduce transit times for a power-constrained architecture.
White, Harold↗
Perigree Propulsion for Orbital Launch of Nuclear Rockets
A thrust program called perigee propulsion which minimizes gravity loss is analyzed. Thrust is applied intermittently in regions of high velocity (near successive perigees). The increased energy-addition efficiency yields mass ratios approaching those for impulsive velocity change. Corresponding times to reach desired energy are in days but are still small relative to mission times. For specified orbital-launch missions, perigee- propulsion nuclear-rocket systems are shown to equal continuous-thrust performance with reactor powers an order of magnitude less than those of continuous-thrust systems. Application and operational aspects of perigee propulsion are discussed.
Johnson, Paul G.↗
Space exploration and its atomic energy implications
Use of fission and isotopic fuels for nuclear advanced spacecraft propulsion
FISSION PRODUCT↗
Transportation concepts for Mars exploration
The transportation aspects of astronaut travel to Mars are discussed. Alternative types of propulsion are examined, including mainline and ancillary chemical propulsion, electric propulsion, and nuclear thermal rocket propulsion. The possibility of remote propellant production is presented, focusing on the use of lunar liquid oxygen, Phobos propellants and Mars propellant production. Also, the way in which habitat models may be derived from Space Station modules or from other designs capitalizing on larger diameter payload envelopes for heavy-lift launch vehicles is considered.
Clark, Benton C.↗
The NASA Lewis Research Center electric propulsion program
The Lewis Research Center conducts an electric propulsion program aimed at a broad class of space missions. The program is structured in an evolutionary fashion in order to both maximize expectations for the acceptance of developed concepts and accommodate anticipated developments of critical system technologies. Recent efforts have assisted in the acceptance of low power electric rockets. Primary electric propulsion concepts are also being developed for both Solar Electric Propulsion Systems and Nuclear Electric Propulsion Systems class space missions, and the paper briefly describes the concepts under evaluation for potential Space Exploration Initiative missions.
Byers, David C.↗
How shall we go to Mars? A review of mission scenarios
Four scenarios for initial Mars missions are examined in this overview of strategies. The scenarios are compared to determine the most effective option with respect to the effects of reduced gravity, exposure to space radiation, and cost. Mission cost is evaluated based on initial mass in earth orbit for the four mission types: classes-opposition, conjunction, fast-transfer conjunction, and split sprint. The reduced gravitational force on the Martian surface is considered to be a critical factor because the physical deconditioning at 3/8 earth gravity is assumed to approximate that of zero gravity. Exposure to radiation is not determined to be a definite discriminator because none of the scenarios exceed established limits. The split sprint is championed based on the high energy transfers considered and with chemical propulsion (or preferably nuclear thermal propulsion) and aerobraking.
Walberg, Gerald↗
NTP system simulation and detailed nuclear engine modeling
The topics are presented in viewgraph form and include the following: nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) & detailed nuclear engine modeling; modeling and engineering simulation of nuclear thermal rocket systems; nuclear thermal rocket simulation system; INSPI-NTVR core axial flow profiles; INSPI-NTRV core axial flow profiles; specific impulse vs. chamber pressure; turbine pressure ratio vs. chamber pressure; NERVA core axial flow profiles; P&W XNR2000 core axial flow profiles; pump pressure rise vs. chamber pressure; streamline of jet-induced flow in cylindrical chamber; flow pattern of a jet-induced flow in a chamber; and radiative heat transfer models.
Anghaie, Samim↗
Design considerations for a Space Station radiation shield for protection from both man-made and natural sources
This study was conducted to analyze scenarios involving the use of nuclear-power vehicles in the vicinity of a manned Space Station (SS) in low-earth-orbit (LEO) to quantify their radiological impact to the station crew. In limiting the radiant dose to crew members, mission planners may (1) shut the reactor down prior to reentry, (2) position the vehicle at a prescribed parking distance, and (3) deploy radiation shield about the shutdown reactor. The current report focuses on the third option in which point-kernel gamma-ray shielding calculations were performed for a variety of shield configurations for both nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) and nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) vehicles. For a returning NTR vehicle, calculations indicate that a 14.9 MT shield would be needed to limit the integrated crew exposure to no more than 0.05 Sv over a period of six months (25 percent of the allowable exposure to man-made radiation sources). During periods of low vehicular activity in LEO, the shield may be redeployed about the SS habitation module in order to decrease crew exposures to trapped proton radiations by approximately a factor of 10. The corresponding shield mass required for deployment at a returning NEP vehicle is 2.21 MT. Additional scenarios examined include the radioactivation of various metals as might be found in tools used in EVA activities.
Bolch, Wesley E.↗