Assessment of the advantages and feasibility of a nuclear rocket [electronic resource]
The feasibility of rebuilding and testing a nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) for the Mars mission has been investigated. Calculations indicate that an NTR would substantially reduce the earth-orbit assembled mass compared to LOX/LH/sub 2/ systems. The mass savings were 36% and 65% for the cases of total...
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Online Access |
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| Format: | Government Document Electronic eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Los Alamos, N.M. : Oak Ridge, Tenn. :
Los Alamos National Laboratory ; distributed by the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Department of Energy,
1985.
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| Summary: | The feasibility of rebuilding and testing a nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) for the Mars mission has been investigated. Calculations indicate that an NTR would substantially reduce the earth-orbit assembled mass compared to LOX/LH/sub 2/ systems. The mass savings were 36% and 65% for the cases of total aerobraking and of total propulsive braking respectively. Consequently, the cost savings for a single mission of using an NTR, if aerobraking is feasible, are probably insufficient to warrant the NTR development. If multiple missions are planned or if propulsive braking is desired at Mars and/or at Earth, then the savings of about $7B will easily pay for the NTR development. Estimates of the cost of rebuilding a NTR were based on the previous NERVA program's budget plus additional costs to develop a flight ready engine. The total cost to build the engine would be between $4 to 5B. The concept of developing a full-power test stand at Johnston Atoll in the Pacific appears very feasible. The added expense of building facilities on the island should be less than $1.4B. Nesdps Office Of Nuclear Energy Space And Defense Power Systems. |
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| Item Description: | Published through SciTech Connect. 01/01/1985. "la-ur-85-2442" " conf-8506149-5" "DE85015717" Manned mars mission workshop, Huntsville, AL, USA, 10 Jun 1985. Howe, S.D. |
| Physical Description: | Pages: 17 : digital, PDF file. |