A study was conducted that shows how a single Radioisotope Electric Propulsion (REP) spacecraft design could be used for various missions throughout the solar system. This spacecraft design is based on a REP feasibility design from a study performed by NASA Glenn Research Center and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The study also identifies technologies that need development to enable these missions. The mission baseline for the REP feasibility design study is a Trojan asteroid orbiter. This mission sends an REP spacecraft to Jupiter s leading Lagrange point where it would orbit and examine several Trojan asteroids. The spacecraft design from the REP feasibility study would also be applicable to missions to the Centaurs, and through some change of payload configuration, could accommodate a comet sample-return mission. Missions to small bodies throughout the outer solar system are also within reach of this spacecraft design. This set of missions, utilizing the common REP spacecraft design, is examined and required design modifications for specific missions are outlined.


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    Title :

    Radioisotope Electric Propulsion Missions Utilizing a Common Spacecraft Design


    Contributors:
    D. Fiehler (author) / S. Oleson (author)

    Publication date :

    2004


    Size :

    15 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English






    Radioisotope electric propulsion missions utilizing a common spacecraft design

    Fiehler, D. / Oleson, S. / International Astronautical Federation et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2005



    Radioisotope Electric Propulsion (REP) Spacecraft Design Concept Considerations

    Edwards, Daryl A. / Fiehler, Douglas I. | NTRS | 2005