This paper discusses the expansion of the Near-Earth Object Human Space Flight Accessible Targets Study (NHATS) with Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP). The research investigates the existence of new launch seasons that would have been impossible to achieve using only chemical propulsion. Furthermore, this paper shows that SEP can be used to significantly reduce the launch mass and in some cases the flight time of potential missions as compared to the current, purely chemical trajectories identified by the NHATS project.
Identifying Accessible Near-Earth Objects For Crewed Missions With Solar Electric Propulsion
2015
19 pages
Report
No indication
English
Astronomy & Astrophysics , Extraterrestrial Exploration , Space Technology , Astronautics , Spacecraft Trajectories & Flight Mechanics , Near earth objects , Asteroids , Low earth orbits , Manned space flight , Solar electric propulsion , Flight time , Trajectories , Trajectory optimization , Launch windows , Seasons , Payload mass ratio , Chemical propulsion , Targets , Rendezvous trajectories , Mathematical models , Comparison , Mission planning , Propulsive efficiency , Nasa space programs