Author: Scott J. McGinnis
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 118
Book Description
Nuclear power is the next enabling technology in manned exploration of the solar system. Scientists and engineers continue to design multi-megawatt power systems, yet no power system in the 100 kilowatt, electric range has been built and flown. Technology demonstrations and studies leave a myriad of systems from which decision makers can choose to build the first manned space nuclear power system. While many subsystem engineers plan in parallel, an accurate specific mass value becomes an important design specification, which is still uncertain. This thesis goes through the design features of the manned Mars mission, its power system requirements, their design attributes as well as their design faults. Specific mass is calculated statistically as well as empirically for 1-15MWe systems. Conclusions are presented on each subsystem as well as recommendations for decision makers on where development needs to begin today in order for the mission to launch in the future.
Nuclear Power Systems for Manned Mission to Mars
Author: Scott J. McGinnis
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 118
Book Description
Nuclear power is the next enabling technology in manned exploration of the solar system. Scientists and engineers continue to design multi-megawatt power systems, yet no power system in the 100 kilowatt, electric range has been built and flown. Technology demonstrations and studies leave a myriad of systems from which decision makers can choose to build the first manned space nuclear power system. While many subsystem engineers plan in parallel, an accurate specific mass value becomes an important design specification, which is still uncertain. This thesis goes through the design features of the manned Mars mission, its power system requirements, their design attributes as well as their design faults. Specific mass is calculated statistically as well as empirically for 1-15MWe systems. Conclusions are presented on each subsystem as well as recommendations for decision makers on where development needs to begin today in order for the mission to launch in the future.
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 118
Book Description
Nuclear power is the next enabling technology in manned exploration of the solar system. Scientists and engineers continue to design multi-megawatt power systems, yet no power system in the 100 kilowatt, electric range has been built and flown. Technology demonstrations and studies leave a myriad of systems from which decision makers can choose to build the first manned space nuclear power system. While many subsystem engineers plan in parallel, an accurate specific mass value becomes an important design specification, which is still uncertain. This thesis goes through the design features of the manned Mars mission, its power system requirements, their design attributes as well as their design faults. Specific mass is calculated statistically as well as empirically for 1-15MWe systems. Conclusions are presented on each subsystem as well as recommendations for decision makers on where development needs to begin today in order for the mission to launch in the future.
Priorities in Space Science Enabled by Nuclear Power and Propulsion
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309180104
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 158
Book Description
In 2003, NASA began an R&D effort to develop nuclear power and propulsion systems for solar system exploration. This activity, renamed Project Prometheus in 2004, was initiated because of the inherent limitations in photovoltaic and chemical propulsion systems in reaching many solar system objectives. To help determine appropriate missions for a nuclear power and propulsion capability, NASA asked the NRC for an independent assessment of potentially highly meritorious missions that may be enabled if space nuclear systems became operational. This report provides a series of space science objectives and missions that could be so enabled in the period beyond 2015 in the areas of astronomy and astrophysics, solar system exploration, and solar and space physics. It is based on but does not reprioritize the findings of previous NRC decadal surveys in those three areas.
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309180104
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 158
Book Description
In 2003, NASA began an R&D effort to develop nuclear power and propulsion systems for solar system exploration. This activity, renamed Project Prometheus in 2004, was initiated because of the inherent limitations in photovoltaic and chemical propulsion systems in reaching many solar system objectives. To help determine appropriate missions for a nuclear power and propulsion capability, NASA asked the NRC for an independent assessment of potentially highly meritorious missions that may be enabled if space nuclear systems became operational. This report provides a series of space science objectives and missions that could be so enabled in the period beyond 2015 in the areas of astronomy and astrophysics, solar system exploration, and solar and space physics. It is based on but does not reprioritize the findings of previous NRC decadal surveys in those three areas.
Radioisotope Power Systems
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309138574
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 68
Book Description
Spacecraft require electrical energy. This energy must be available in the outer reaches of the solar system where sunlight is very faint. It must be available through lunar nights that last for 14 days, through long periods of dark and cold at the higher latitudes on Mars, and in high-radiation fields such as those around Jupiter. Radioisotope power systems (RPSs) are the only available power source that can operate unconstrained in these environments for the long periods of time needed to accomplish many missions, and plutonium-238 (238Pu) is the only practical isotope for fueling them. Plutonium-238 does not occur in nature. The committee does not believe that there is any additional 238Pu (or any operational 238Pu production facilities) available anywhere in the world.The total amount of 238Pu available for NASA is fixed, and essentially all of it is already dedicated to support several pending missions-the Mars Science Laboratory, Discovery 12, the Outer Planets Flagship 1 (OPF 1), and (perhaps) a small number of additional missions with a very small demand for 238Pu. If the status quo persists, the United States will not be able to provide RPSs for any subsequent missions.
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309138574
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 68
Book Description
Spacecraft require electrical energy. This energy must be available in the outer reaches of the solar system where sunlight is very faint. It must be available through lunar nights that last for 14 days, through long periods of dark and cold at the higher latitudes on Mars, and in high-radiation fields such as those around Jupiter. Radioisotope power systems (RPSs) are the only available power source that can operate unconstrained in these environments for the long periods of time needed to accomplish many missions, and plutonium-238 (238Pu) is the only practical isotope for fueling them. Plutonium-238 does not occur in nature. The committee does not believe that there is any additional 238Pu (or any operational 238Pu production facilities) available anywhere in the world.The total amount of 238Pu available for NASA is fixed, and essentially all of it is already dedicated to support several pending missions-the Mars Science Laboratory, Discovery 12, the Outer Planets Flagship 1 (OPF 1), and (perhaps) a small number of additional missions with a very small demand for 238Pu. If the status quo persists, the United States will not be able to provide RPSs for any subsequent missions.
Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports
Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration
Author: National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780309684804
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
Book Description
Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration identifies primary technical and programmatic challenges, merits, and risks for developing and demonstrating space nuclear propulsion technologies of interest to future exploration missions. This report presents key milestones and a top-level development and demonstration roadmap for performance nuclear thermal propulsion and nuclear electric propulsion systems and identifies missions that could be enabled by successful development of each technology.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780309684804
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
Book Description
Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration identifies primary technical and programmatic challenges, merits, and risks for developing and demonstrating space nuclear propulsion technologies of interest to future exploration missions. This report presents key milestones and a top-level development and demonstration roadmap for performance nuclear thermal propulsion and nuclear electric propulsion systems and identifies missions that could be enabled by successful development of each technology.
Cosmos 1900 and the Future of Space Nuclear Power
Author: United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Artificial satellites
Languages : en
Pages : 288
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Artificial satellites
Languages : en
Pages : 288
Book Description
Humans to Mars
Author: David S. F. Portree
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Space flight to Mars
Languages : en
Pages : 164
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Space flight to Mars
Languages : en
Pages : 164
Book Description
The Development of Cryogenic Storage Systems for Space Flight
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Gases
Languages : en
Pages : 140
Book Description
Development of cryogenic storage systems for manned space flight.
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Gases
Languages : en
Pages : 140
Book Description
Development of cryogenic storage systems for manned space flight.
Nuclear Science Abstracts
Future National Space Objectives, Staff Study for the Subcommittee on NASA Oversight of the ... Serial O.
Author: United States. Congress. House. Science and Astronautics
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 464
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 464
Book Description