A feasibility study considering the exploitation of a near Earth asteroid was performed. The power requirements and proposed power systems for the crew vehicle, cargo vehicles, mining and processing equipment are described. A photovoltaic power system was selected to meet the 52.1 kWe and the 3.9 kWe power requirements of the crew and cargo vehicles, respectively. A nuclear power plant using a thermodynamic Rankine cycle with a total mass of 62.1 tons was chosen to provide the 7.225 MWe and the 5.5 MWth required for the mining and processing activities at the asteroid.


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    Title :

    Power Supply for a Manned International Asteroid Mission


    Contributors:
    S. Weingartner (author) / H. K. Nahra (author) / L. L. Kohout (author) / M. Larin (author)

    Publication date :

    1991


    Size :

    6 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Power Supply for a Manned International Asteroid Mission

    Weingartner, Stefan / Nahra, Henry K. / Kohout, Lisa L. et al. | NTRS | 1991





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