The NASA/DOE space nuclear propulsion project plan-FY 1991 status

Details The NASA/DOE space nuclear propulsion project plan-FY 1991 status The NASA/DOE space nuclear propulsion project plan-FY 1991 status

Jan 1992

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1992aipc..246..703c&link_type=abstract

Proceedings of the ninth symposium on space nuclear power systems. AIP Conference Proceedings, Volume 246, pp. 703-713 (1992).

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Propulsion Reactors, Other Topics In Nuclear Engineering And Nuclear Power Studies

Scientific paper

NASA and the DOE have initiated critical technology development for nuclear rocket propulsion systems for U.S. Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) human and robotic missions to the Moon and to Mars. This paper summarizes the activities of the interagency project planning team in FY 1990 and 1991, and summarizes the project plan. The project plan includes evolutionary technology development for both nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) systems and nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) systems. The NEP development expands upon the SP-100 technology, being developed for lunar and Mars surface nuclear power, as a foundation from which to develop more powerful, lighter systems for interplanetary probes, lunar and Mars cargo vehicles, and lunar and Mars human-piloted vehicles. Similarly, the NTP technology development plan expands upon the substantial NERVA data base developed in the 1960s and early 1970s for solid core thermal reactors, by improving nuclear fules to permit higher operating temperatures (with appropriate safety and reliability margins), and ultimately, to upgrade the system to liquid or gaseous core concepts. Thus, a logical, step-wise program is planned that will have systems ready for initial unmanned flight by about 2008, will include robotic lunar missions to gain operational experience prior to manned flight, and will then proceed to a manned lunar mission that will simulate a full-up Mars mission. Mars robotic missions are planned to begin in about 2011-2012, with the first manned Mars mission in about 2014. System upgrades are expected to evolve that will result in shorter trips times, improved payload capabilities, or enhanced safety and reliability.

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