A research effort directed at analytically and experimentally investigating ElectronCyclotron-Resonance (ECR) plasma acceleration is outlined. Relevant past research is reviewed.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The ballistic Mars hopper is proposed as an alternative mobility concept for unmanned exploration of the martian surface. In the ballistic Mars hopper concept, oxygen and carbon monoxide produced from the martian atmosphere are used as propellants in a rocket propulsion system for an unmanned vehicle on suborbital trajectories between landing sights separated by distances of up to 1000 km. This mobility concept is seen as uniquely capable of allowing both intensive and extensive exploration of the planet using only a single landed vehicle massing approximately 2000 kg. The technical challenges associated with In-Situ Propellant Production (ISPP) on the surface of Mars are reviewed. A rocket propulsion subsystem capable of using oxygen and carbon monoxide as propellants is described. Finally, results of mission analysis and a hopper landing hazard simulation are reported. It is concluded that an attractive Mars hopper can be developed based on relatively near-term technology.

No abstract

Three types of electric thrusters currently under development at JPL have potential to support future missions which utilize multimegawatt nuclear elecUic propulsion. These electric thrusters are the electron bombardment ion thruster, the magnetoplasmadynamic (MID) thruster, and the electron-cyclotron-resonance (ECR) thruster. The electron bombardment ion thruster is a relatively mature technology which has been developed for operation at kilowatt power levels but will require new development for application in the multimegawatt regime. The MPD engine represents a technology which may be very well suited to steady-state multimegawatt applications but which has been limited to sub-scale (100's ofkW) and pulsed (MW) testing thus far. The ECR plasma engine represents a class of very promising new concepts which are still in the basic research phase of development, but which may possess important fundamental advantages over other electric thruster technologies. In this paper, models of these thrusters are described and used to make projections of thruster specific mass, efficiency, and power handling capacity for operation in the multimegawatt regime.

No abstract