The aim of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of an Earth-to-Mars transfer with reduced transfer time using a high-power electric propulsion system. The study involved a multidisciplinary analysis combining general performance calculations for power-limited systems, an analysis of a nuclear power source that might be available in the future, and a series of mission analyses, including trajectory optimization. The study quantified the importance of the specific mass of the power and propulsion system with regard to the objective of a fast transfer. A very fast Earth-to-Mars transfer in less than six weeks appears to be unrealistic in the medium term because it depends on a hypothetical breakthrough with the nuclear electric power source, requiring a specific mass that would typically be less than 1 kg / kW . The results obtained define the limits to improvements that could be obtained in the medium term, using power-generation technologies that, while challenging, are frequently considered as reasonably optimistic, for example using a high-temperature Brayton or Rankine conversion cycle. The shortest Earth-to-Mars transfer time that could be expected for missions with a large enough payload mass was found to be about 120 days, compared to 180 days with chemical propulsion.


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    Title :

    Feasibility Assessment of Rapid Earth–Mars Transfers Using High-Power Electric Propulsion


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2014-03-28


    Size :

    12 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English







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