The NERVA-class Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR), with performance nearly double that of advanced chemical engines, has long been considered an enabling technology for human missions to Mars. NTR engines address the demanding trip time and payload delivery needs of both cargo-only and piloted flights. But NTR can also reduce the Earth launch requirements for manned lunar missions. First use of NTR for the Moon would be less demanding and would provide a test-bed for early operations experience with this powerful technology. Study of application and design options indicates that NTR propulsion can be integrated with the Space Exploration Initiative scenarios to deliver performance gains while managing controlled, long-term disposal of spent reactors to highly stable orbits.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Lunar mission design using Nuclear Thermal Rockets


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    1991-01-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Advanced space mission capabilities of nuclear rockets

    Beckwith, W.C. / Johnson, H.L. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1964


    Advanced space mission capabilities of nuclear rockets

    BECKWITH, W. C. / JOHNSON, H. L. | AIAA | 1964


    Advanced space mission capabilities of nuclear rockets

    BECKWITH, W. / JOHNSON, H. | AIAA | 1963


    Preliminary Mission Architecture for Mars Sample Return Utilizing Nuclear Thermal Rockets

    Allen, R.E. / Manning, B.T. / Chlapek, T.M. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2011


    Nuclear rockets

    Fox, R. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1962