Abstract: In this paper, high‐power electric propulsion options are surveyed in the context of cargo and piloted missions to Mars. A low‐thrust trajectory optimization program (raptor) is utilized to analyze this mission. Candidate thrusters are chosen based upon demonstrated performance in the laboratory. Hall, self‐field magnetoplasmadynamic (MPDT), self‐field lithium Lorentz force accelerator (LiLFA), arcjet, and applied‐field LiLFA systems are considered for this mission. In this first phase of the study, all thrusters are assumed to operate at a single power level (regardless of the efficiency‐power curve), and the thruster specific mass and power plant specific mass are taken to be the same for all systems. Under these assumptions, for a 7.5 MW, 60 mT payload, piloted mission, the self‐field LiLFA results in the shortest trip time (340 days) with a reasonable propellant mass fraction of 57% (129 mT). For a 150 kW, 9 mT payload, cargo mission, both the applied‐field LiLFA and the Hall thruster seem reasonable choices with propellant mass fractions of 42 to 45%(7 to 8 mT). The Hall thrusters provide better trip times (530‐570 days) compared to the applied‐field LiLFA (710 days) for the relatively less demanding mission.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    A Survey of Propulsion Options for Cargo and Piloted Missions to Mars


    Contributors:
    SANKARAN, K (author) / CASSADY, L (author) / KODYS, A D (author) / CHOUEIRI, E Y (author)

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2004-05-01


    Size :

    18 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    A Survey of Propulsion Options for Cargo and Piloted Missions to Mars

    Sankaran, K. / Cassady, L. / Kodys, A. D. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2004




    Electric Propulsion Options for Mars Cargo Missions

    Frisbee, R. H. / Hoffman, N. J. / American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1996


    Electric Propulsion Options for Mars Cargo Missions

    Hoffman, Nathan J. / Frisbee, Robert H. | NTRS | 1996