scholarly journals Outer Planet Missions with Electric Propulsion Systems—Part I

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Renato Huaura Solórzano ◽  
Antonio Fernando Bertachini de Almeida Prado ◽  
Alexander Alexandrovich Sukhanov
Keyword(s):  
Electric Propulsion ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Outer Planet ◽  
Low Thrust ◽  
Propulsion Systems ◽  
New Horizons ◽  
Outer Planets ◽  
Entire Trajectory ◽  
Planet Exploration ◽  
Interplanetary Missions

For interplanetary missions, efficient electric propulsion systems can be used to increase the mass delivered to the destination. Outer planet exploration has experienced new interest with the launch of the Cassini and New Horizons Missions. At the present, new technologies are studied for better use of electric propulsion systems in missions to the outer planets. This paper presents low-thrust trajectories using the method of the transporting trajectory to Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. They use nuclear and radio isotopic electric propulsion. These direct transfers have continuous electric propulsion of low power along the entire trajectory. The main goal of the paper is to optimize the transfers, that is, to provide maximum mass to be delivered to the outer planets.

scholarly journals Analysis of Electric Propulsion System for Exploration of Saturn

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Renato Huaura Solórzano ◽  
Antonio Fernando Bertachini de Almeida Prado ◽  
Alexander Alexandrovich Sukhanov
Keyword(s):  
Electric Propulsion ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Propulsion System ◽  
Keplerian Orbit ◽  
Low Thrust ◽  
Propulsion Systems ◽  
New Horizons ◽  
Outer Planets ◽  
Electric Propulsion System ◽  
Solar Electric Propulsion

Exploration of the outer planets has experienced new interest with the launch of the Cassini and the New Horizons Missions. At the present time, new technologies are under study for the better use of electric propulsion system in deep space missions. In the present paper, the method of the transporting trajectory is used to study this problem. This approximated method for the flight optimization with power-limited low thrust is based on the linearization of the motion of a spacecraft near a keplerian orbit that is close to the transfer trajectory. With the goal of maximizing the mass to be delivered in Saturn, several transfers were studied using nuclear, radioisotopic and solar electric propulsion systems.

scholarly journals Electric Propulsion Methods for Small Satellites: A Review

Aerospace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Dillon O’Reilly ◽  
Georg Herdrich ◽  
Darren F. Kavanagh
Keyword(s):  
Electric Propulsion ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Space Propulsion ◽  
Propulsion Systems ◽  
Small Satellites ◽  
Art Research ◽  
Current Knowledge Base ◽  
Interplanetary Missions

Over 2500 active satellites are in orbit as of October 2020, with an increase of ~1000 smallsats in the past two years. Since 2012, over 1700 smallsats have been launched into orbit. It is projected that by 2025, there will be 1000 smallsats launched per year. Currently, these satellites do not have sufficient delta v capabilities for missions beyond Earth orbit. They are confined to their pre-selected orbit and in most cases, they cannot avoid collisions. Propulsion systems on smallsats provide orbital manoeuvring, station keeping, collision avoidance and safer de-orbit strategies. In return, this enables longer duration, higher functionality missions beyond Earth orbit. This article has reviewed electrostatic, electrothermal and electromagnetic propulsion methods based on state of the art research and the current knowledge base. Performance metrics by which these space propulsion systems can be evaluated are presented. The article outlines some of the existing limitations and shortcomings of current electric propulsion thruster systems and technologies. Moreover, the discussion contributes to the discourse by identifying potential research avenues to improve and advance electric propulsion systems for smallsats. The article has placed emphasis on space propulsion systems that are electric and enable interplanetary missions, while alternative approaches to propulsion have also received attention in the text, including light sails and nuclear electric propulsion amongst others.

scholarly journals Sustainability Assessment and Engineering of Emerging Aircraft Technologies—Challenges, Methods and Tools

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 5663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Pinheiro Melo ◽  
Alexander Barke ◽  
Felipe Cerdas ◽  
Christian Thies ◽  
Mark Mennenga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Electric Propulsion ◽  
Alternative Fuels ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Integrated Modelling ◽  
Propulsion Systems ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Recommendations For Action

Driven by concerns regarding the sustainability of aviation and the continued growth of air traffic, increasing interest is given to emerging aircraft technologies. Although new technologies, such as battery-electric propulsion systems, have the potential to minimise in-flight emissions and noise, environmental burdens are possibly shifted to other stages of the aircraft’s life cycle, and new socio-economic challenges may arise. Therefore, a life-cycle-oriented sustainability assessment is required to identify these hotspots and problem shifts and to derive recommendations for action for aircraft development at an early stage. This paper proposes a framework for the modelling and assessment of future aircraft technologies and provides an overview of the challenges and available methods and tools in this field. A structured search and screening process is used to determine which aspects of the proposed framework are already addressed in the scientific literature and in which areas research is still needed. For this purpose, a total of 66 related articles are identified and systematically analysed. Firstly, an overview of statistics of papers dealing with life-cycle-oriented analysis of conventional and emerging aircraft propulsion systems is given, classifying them according to the technologies considered, the sustainability dimensions and indicators investigated, and the assessment methods applied. Secondly, a detailed analysis of the articles is conducted to derive answers to the defined research questions. It illustrates that the assessment of environmental aspects of alternative fuels is a dominating research theme, while novel approaches that integrate socio-economic aspects and broaden the scope to battery-powered, fuel-cell-based, or hybrid-electric aircraft are emerging. It also provides insights by what extent future aviation technologies can contribute to more sustainable and energy-efficient aviation. The findings underline the need to harmonise existing methods into an integrated modelling and assessment approach that considers the specifics of upcoming technological developments in aviation.

Hybrid rocket propulsion systems for outer planet exploration missions

2016 ◽  
Vol 128 ◽  
pp. 119-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth T. Jens ◽  
Brian J. Cantwell ◽  
G. Scott Hubbard
Keyword(s):  
Outer Planet ◽  
Hybrid Rocket ◽  
Propulsion Systems ◽  
Rocket Propulsion ◽  
Planet Exploration

Rendez vous with Saturn's rings

1984 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 743-759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry T. Nock
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Electric Propulsion ◽  
Power Source ◽  
Propulsion System ◽  
Low Thrust ◽  
Ring Plane ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Total Impulse ◽  
Saturn's Rings

ABSTRACTA mission to rendezvous with the rings of Saturn is studied with regard to science rationale and instrumentation and engineering feasibility and design. Future detailedin situexploration of the rings of Saturn will require spacecraft systems with enormous propulsive capability. NASA is currently studying the critical technologies for just such a system, called Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP). Electric propulsion is the only technology which can effectively provide the required total impulse for this demanding mission. Furthermore, the power source must be nuclear because the solar energy reaching Saturn is only 1% of that at the Earth. An important aspect of this mission is the ability of the low thrust propulsion system to continuously boost the spacecraft above the ring plane as it spirals in toward Saturn, thus enabling scientific measurements of ring particles from only a few kilometers.

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