Progress in nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) systems for a multipayload multimission vehicle needed in both deep-space missions and a variety of geocentric missions is reviewed. The space system power level is a function of the initial launch vehicle mass, but developments in out-of-core nuclear thermionic direct conversion have broadened design options. Cost, design, and performance parameters are compared for reusable chemical space tugs and NEP reusable space tugs. Improvements in heat pipes, ion engines, and magnetoplasmadynamic arc jet thrust subsystems are discussed.
Status report on nuclear electric propulsion systems
Meeting on Space Shuttle Missions of the 80''s ; 1975 ; Denver, CO
1975-08-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
Status report on propulsion/electric power
NTRS | 1972
|Status report - radioisotopic propulsion systems.
NTRS | 1965
|Nuclear electric propulsion systems overview
NTRS | 1993
|NTIS | 1986
|Session Report: Electric Propulsion Systems
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1993
|