Development and evolutionary paths for many space transportation elements must be considered as the United States space program embarks on the Space Exploration Initiative (SEI). A central element of the space transportation infrastructure necessary to support the SEI is Mars Transportation System (MTS). This system consists of the Mars Transfer Vehicle (MTV) and Mars Excursion Vehicle. This paper describes the process and results in evaluating the alternate MTV propulsion concepts. Primary discriminators in evaluating different options for the MTV alternatives are: requirements for earth-to-orbit delivery, on-orbit facility and assembly requirements, and mission performance. Propulsion candidates assessed in this paper include nuclear thermal propulsion, nuclear electric propulsion, solar electric propulsion, and cryogenic chemical propulsion (LO2/LH2). The primary discriminators as well as additional selection criteria will be discussed for each MTS alternative.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    An infrastructure assessment of alternative Mars Transfer Vehicles


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1990-07-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    An infrastructure assessment of alternative Mars Transfer Vehicles

    HOLDRIDGE, JEFFREY / SHEPARD, KYLE / HUETER, UWE et al. | AIAA | 1990



    On-orbit assembly of Mars transfer vehicles

    Rao, Niranjan S. / Ruff, Theron E. / Ramsey, Paul S. et al. | NTRS | 1991