Spacecraft capable of unmanned exploration of solar system can be achieved by use of nuclear-electric propulsion system employing Saturn 1-B booster chain; within 1-yr flight time, spacecraft could explore near-earth region of solar system; with ultimate 2-yr propulsion system lifetime goal, spacecraft could orbit Jupiter and probe remainder of solar system; system requirements are thrust devices efficient in specific impulse range of 6000-12,000 sec, nuclear turboelectric powerplant of 500 kw electric weighing about 14 lb/kw, and spacecraft weight of 20,000 lb; description of spacecraft using Jupiter orbiter mission as example.
Electric space cruiser for high-energy missions
J Spacecraft Rockets
Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets ; 1 , n 1
1964
7 pages
Article (Journal)
English
© Metadata Copyright Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.
Electric space cruiser for high-energy missions
AIAA | 1964
|Electric Space Cruiser for High-Energy Missions
NTRS | 1963
|THE ELECTRIC SPACE CRUISER FOR HIGH ENERGY MISSIONS
NTRS | 1963
|THE ELECTRIC SPACE CRUISER FOR HIGH ENERGY MISSIONS
AIAA | 1963
|