A Nuclear Electric Propulsion Module for Outer Planets Exploration

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Valentian
Keyword(s):  
Electric Propulsion ◽  
Outer Planets

Benefits of Nuclear Electric Propulsion to Outer Planets Exploration

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Les Johnson ◽  
Jonathan Jones ◽  
Larry Kos ◽  
Ann Trausch ◽  
Robert Farris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Propulsion ◽  
Outer Planets

Cost Effective Electric Propulsion Missions to the Outer Planets

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cosmo Casaregola ◽  
Koen Geurts ◽  
Pierpaolo Pergola ◽  
Mariano Andrenucci
Keyword(s):  
Electric Propulsion ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Outer Planets

scholarly journals Engines for the Cosmos

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (01) ◽  
pp. 50-53
Author(s):  
Aloysius I. Reisz ◽  
Stephen L. Rodgers
Keyword(s):  
Electric Propulsion ◽  
Specific Impulse ◽  
Charged Particles ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Deep Space ◽  
Outer Planets ◽  
Nuclear Propulsion ◽  
Electric Generation

This article highlights how exploration of deep space requires systems of propulsion that can go the distance. To explore the outer planets in a reasonable time, engines must generate either high exhaust velocity or high specific impulse. The United States recognized early the benefit that nuclear propulsion could provide for interplanetary exploration and ran an extensive research and development program devoted to it. Electric propulsion devices require an energy source and an electric generation method in order to operate. Engines being engineered for deep space missions are, out of necessity, fueled by clean energy from light gas atoms. The fuels are brought to certain physical states and subjected to electric or magnetic fields that accelerate and eject charged particles out of the engine, thereby giving momentum to the spacecraft. These new deep space engines will enable to send missions to the far reaches of the solar system and beyond with exploratory instruments.

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 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.

The evolution of the Kuiper belt during the formation of the outer planets

1999 ◽  
Vol 173 ◽  
pp. 37-44
Author(s):  
M.D. Melita ◽  
A. Brunini
Keyword(s):  
Kuiper Belt ◽  
Outer Planets ◽  
Self Consistent ◽  
Planetary Bodies ◽  
Mass Depletion

AbstractA self-consistent study of the formation of planetary bodies beyond the orbit of Saturn and the evolution of Kuiper disks is carried out by means of an N-body code where accretion and gravitational encounters are considered. This investigation is focused on the aggregation of massive bodies in the outer planetary region and on the consequences of such process in the corresponding cometary belt. We study the link between the bombardment of massive bodies and mass depletion and eccentricity excitation.

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document