Human Interplanetary/Asteroid Vehicle Concept

摘要

At Space 2010 Conference we presented a technical paper identifying many advantages of nuclear electric propulsion over nuclear thermal (NERVA) to transfer humans to Mars and the Asteroids. The primary benefits were much shorter transfer times for a Mars or asteroid mission, vehicle reusability, no nuclear space debris (vehicle flies to Sun at end of life), and a lighter total system weight. At Space 2011 we presented a technical paper that illustrated methods to significantly reduce the size of the radiator for a nuclear electric propulsion system. We illustrated that by designing the Brayton Cycle electric power generating system off optimum weight by about 15%, and improve the turbine inlet temperature to about 1500 K, would increase the total system weight by only about 7 % but allow a reduction in the radiator size by a factor of 5/1. Increasing the turbine inlet temperature to 2000 K increases the system weight by5 % but reduces the radiator size by 14/1. We traded a small net weight increase to ease an operational assembly requirement. This technical paper will present a concept nuclear electric vehicle system design that incorporates the data from the above papers and other features that will satisfy other operational requirements. Features presented will provide increased mission success and be friendlier to the Astronauts. Such features as modules for ease of assembly and disassembly, module placements to ease change/repair of propellant tanks and thrusters (within a safe nuclear radiation environment), module/element redundancies and without module fluid interfaces. We will also provide examples for the common use of system elements for other space applications.