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Robotic Planetary Mission Benefits from Nuclear Electric Propulsion
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English
Abstract
Several interesting planetary missions are either enabled or significantly enhanced by nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) in the 50 to 100 kW power range. These missions include a Pluto Orbiter/Probe with an 11-year flight time and several years of operational life in orbit versus a ballistic very fast (13 km/s) flyby which would take longer to get to Pluto and would have a very short time to observe the planet. (A ballistic orbiter would take about 40 years to get to Pluto.) Other missions include a Neptune Orbiter/Probe, a Jupiter Grand Tour orbiting each of the major moons in order, a Uranus Orbiter/Probe, a Multiple Mainbelt Asteroid Rendezvous orbiting six selected asteroids, and a Comet Nucleus Sample Return. This paper discusses potential missions and compares the nuclear electric propulsion option to the conventional ballistic approach on a parametric basis.
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Citation
Kelley, J. and Yen, C., "Robotic Planetary Mission Benefits from Nuclear Electric Propulsion," SAE Technical Paper 929071, 1992, https://doi.org/10.4271/929071.Also In
References
- Mission Fact Sheets for NASA/Solar System Exploration Division Program Elements Documents Prepared for SSES Workshop 1991 February 25 March 1 San Diego, California
- YEN, C. L. SAUER C. G. Nuclear Electric Propulsion for Future NASA Space Science Missions Paper No. IEPC-91-035 AIDAA/AIAA/DGLR/JSASS 22nd International Electric Propulsion Conference Viareggio, Italy October 14-17 1991
- MONDT, J. F. Development Status of the SP-100 Power System Paper AIAA-89-2591 25th Joint Propulsion Conference July 1989
- BROPHY, J. R. Near Term, 100 kW Class Ion Engines AIAA-91-3566 September 1991
- SAUER, C. G. Current Trajectory Options For Comet Nucleus Sample Return Mission Paper AAS 91-474 AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference Durango Colorado Aug. 19-22 1991