Solar electric propulsion (SEP) mission architectures are applicable to a wide range NASA missions including the robotic exploration of the outer planets in the next decade and the human exploration of Mars within the next 2 decades. SEP enables architectures that are very mass efficient with reasonable power levels (1-MW class) aerobrake and cryogenic upper-stage transportation technologies are utilized. In this architecture, the efficient SEP stage transfers the payload from low Earth orbit (LEO) High Energy Elliptical Parking Orbit (HEEPO) within a period of 6 to 12 months. highthrust, cryogenic upper stage and payload then separate from the SEP vehicle for injection to the planetary target, allowing for fast heliocentric trip times. This mission architecture offers a potential reduction in mass to LEO in comparison to alternative all-chemical nuclear propulsion schemes. Mass reductions may allow launch vehicle downsizing enable missions that would have been grounded because of cost constraints. The preceding figure illustrates a conceptual SEP stage design for a human Mars mission. Researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field designed conceptual SEP vehicle, conceived the mission architecture to use this vehicle, and analyzed the vehicle s performance.


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    Titel :

    Power Systems Evaluated for Solar Electric Propulsion Vehicles


    Beteiligte:
    T. W. Kerslake (Autor:in) / L. P. Gefert (Autor:in)

    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2000


    Format / Umfang :

    3 pages


    Medientyp :

    Report


    Format :

    Keine Angabe


    Sprache :

    Englisch




    Power Systems Evaluated for Solar Electric Propulsion Vehicles

    Kerslake, Thomas W. / Gefert, Leon P. | NTRS | 2000


    Systems analysis of Mars solar electric propulsion vehicles

    HICKMAN, J. / CURTIS, H. / KENNY, B. et al. | AIAA | 1990


    Solar Electric Propulsion for Mars Transport Vehicles

    J M Hickman / H B Curtis / S W Alexander et al. | NTRS | 1990


    Solar Electric Propulsion for MARS Transport Vehicles

    J. M. Hickman / H. B. Curtis / S. W. Alexander et al. | NTIS | 1990