Advanced propulsion options for the Mars cargo mission

Frisbee, Robert H.; Blandino, John J.; Sercel, Joel C.; Sargent, Mark S.; Gowda, Nandini

doi:10.2514/6.1990-1997

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…We evaluate the mission performance (in terms of trip time and vehicle mass) of a nuclear-powered GDM thruster for a one-way Mars cargo mission carrying 90 metric tons (mT) of payload operating at 1.5 MWe using Lithium as propellant. These parameters were chosen in order to compare the results with those for a nuclearpowered MPD thruster 4 , in which the authors provide a much more detail design than the present concept. Figure 1 illustrates the trip time versus the initial mass at low Earth orbit (IMLEO) for GDM systems with various Isp's.…”

Section: Application To Mars Missionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrodeless Plasma Thruster with Self-Generated Electric Field

Kammash¹,

Tang²

2005

41st AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference &Amp;amp; Exhibit

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An "electrodeless" plasma thruster that generates its own electric potential for utilization in the acceleration of its propellant is proposed. It is based on the gasdynamic mirror (GDM) magnetic concept in which the confined plasma would be of such density and temperature as to make the collision mean free path of its ion species much shorter than its length. Under these conditions, the plasma behaves much like a fluid, and its escape from the system is analogous to the flow of a gas into vacuum from a vessel with a hole. Upon inserting the plasma into this magnetic bottle, the electrons escape rapidly through the mirrors due to their small mass, leaving behind an excess of positive charge that manifests itself in a positive electrostatic potential. The electric field generated by this potential accelerates the ions while slowing down the electrons until both species leave the mirror at equal rates, thereby producing a charge-neutral propellant beam (a very desirable effect indeed). Moreover, the GDM plasma thruster will be magnetically "asymmetric" to further control the flow of the propellant, and in conjunction with adjustable input power it could provide variable specific impulse and thrust. This thruster may be viewed currently as a TRL 3 concept since some of the underlying physics has already been validated and could readily be advanced to TRL 5-6 in a matter of several years. Preliminary estimates reveal that with an input power of 50 kWe, such a thruster employing a Lithium propellant at a density of 10 15 cm -3 can generate 124 eV electrostatic potential that could deliver about one Newton of thrust at a specific impulse of well over 7000 seconds, making it especially suitable for the science missions of the near future.

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Section: Application To Mars Missionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrodeless Plasma Thruster with Self-Generated Electric Field

Kammash¹,

Tang²

2005

41st AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference &Amp;amp; Exhibit

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“…In the past, mission analysis activities , Frisbee et al 1990, and Pal~zewski 1989 have often relied upon estimates of efficiency and specific mass based on experimental point designs applied over the wide range of power and specific impulse necessary to investigate alternative missions of interest. To improve this approach, we have undertaken an effort to develop models which are capable of reproducing the scaling trends and quantitative performance values which have been experimentally observed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electric thruster models for multimegawatt nuclear electric propulsion mission design

Leifer

Blandino

Sercel

1991

AIP Conference Proceedings

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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.

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“…• AVm,n.pa -V,,,p,par -vtm•pola (36) "'The geometry involved for Mars orbit insertion is similar to the Earth latitude restrictions for minimum and maximum launch inclination.…”

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confidence: 99%

Project Ares: A Systems Engineering and Operations Architecture for the Exploration of Mars

Amrine¹,

Berger²,

Blaufuss³

et al. 1992

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Efll mflll ¶gQ j Form Approved REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE OMB No. 0704-0188Public re ... rt d ourden tor thtt Kollectiln of information ,s estimate• to iveraqe i hu r per •e:orse tncrludi nr the time for reviewing instructions. searrnltg ex $sting data sources, gathering and -m a ntrnq the data needed., and .Omnletittq and te-P•i.nq t" ýl l.eclwon of intormation Send comments regarding this burdent estmate or ýtnt Othpr The authors, a group of 18 veteran space operations officers, explored the concept of placing a permanentl3rt manned station on Mars -Project Ares. Using a five phase plan involving an early moon base and thred scientific missions to Mars followed by cargo missions and eventually manned trips to the planet, the authors analyzed, designed, and documented their approach. The report focuses on the second phase of the project --scientific expansion of our knowledge of Mars and proof of a reliable transportation system. Among the subjectsi discussed in the report are management, mission profile and environment, and mission systems. The latteri subject contains a variety of systems proposed by various authorities in the space industry and selected to fulfill the unique requirements of the project. Because this phase is an integral part of the project, emphasis was on2 reusability and versatility.14. ... Our goal is to build on America's pioneer spirit and develop our next frontier.. .space. Nowhere do we so effectively demonstrate our technological leadership and ability to make life better on Earth.. .Our progress in space-taking giant steps for all mankind-is a tribute to American teamwork and excellence.. .We can follow our dreams to distant stars, living and working in space for peaceful, economic, and scientific gain. List of Tables President Ronald Reagan State of the Union Address 25 January 1984The first generation of space-probes has revealed so much strangeness and grandeur on our neighboring worlds that, as soon as the technical means are available, men will certainly visit them. And having done this, they will find reasons for living there-as on this earth they have established themselves in such improbable spots as the South Pole and the bottom of the ocean. Space itself, to the considerable surprise of most people, has turned out to be a benign environment; it is only the planets that are hostile. Even this was anticipated almost a century ago by Tsiolkovsky; he regarded the weightless realm of space as man's ultimate home.. .The escape from gravity which we have all known in our dreams may remind us of life's origins in the ocean; but it may also anticipate a far longer future in space. Cosmonaut-artist Alexei Leonov, the first man to step out of a space capsule and to float in the void, entitled his book of paintings: The Stars are Waiting.Arthur C. Clarke Sri Lanka 1980 viii / L Executive Summary Project ObjectivesThe objectives for the GSO-92D design team are to:1. Conduct preliminary research into a space-related systems engineering problem utilizing a project management approach.2....

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Advanced propulsion options for the Mars cargo mission

Cited by 8 publications

References 17 publications

Electrodeless Plasma Thruster with Self-Generated Electric Field

Electrodeless Plasma Thruster with Self-Generated Electric Field

Electric thruster models for multimegawatt nuclear electric propulsion mission design

Project Ares: A Systems Engineering and Operations Architecture for the Exploration of Mars

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