Space nuclear propulsion for human mars exploration / Space Nuclear Propulsion Technologies Committee ; Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board ; Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences.

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"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 deve...

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Bibliographic Details
Uniform Title:Consensus study report.
Corporate Authors: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (U.S.). Space Nuclear Propulsion Technologies Committee (Issuing body)
National Academies Press (U.S.) (Publisher)
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (U.S.). Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board (Issuing body)
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (U.S.). Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences (Issuing body)
Language:English
Published: Washington, DC : The National Academies Press, [2021]
Series:Consensus study report.
Subjects:
Space vehicles > Propulsion systems > Technological innovations.
Nuclear propulsion.
Outer space > Exploration.
Mars (Planet)
Exploration of outer space.
Outer space.
Physical Description:xii, 79 pages : color illustrations ; 28 cm.
Format: Book
Contents:
  • Executive summary
  • 1. Introduction and baseline mission requirements
  • Introduction
  • Baseline mission to Mars: crewed opposition class missions
  • Propulsion system requirements
  • Cargo missions
  • Summary
  • 2. Nuclear thermal propulsion
  • System concept
  • Historical overview
  • State of the art
  • Technology requirements, risks, and options
  • Testing, editing, and simulation
  • Development and demonstration roadmap.
  • Summary
  • 3. Nuclear electric propulsion
  • System concept
  • Historical overview
  • State of the art
  • Technology requirements, risks, and options
  • Testing, modeling, and simulation
  • Development and demonstration roadmap
  • Summary
  • 4. System and programmatic issues
  • NTP and NEP are different technologies
  • Developments common to both NTP and NEP systems
  • HEU versus HALEU
  • Industrial base
  • Lessons learned from the history of developing space nuclear systems
  • Key technical risks
  • Programmatics
  • 5. Mission applications
  • Science missions
  • Potential for higher performance space nuclear propulsion systems
  • Surface power use of NEP reactors
  • Synergies with national security missions
  • Synergies with terrestrial nuclear systems
  • Appendixes.