RPS Strategies to Enable NASA's Next Decade Robotic Mars Missions
- Paper number
IAC-05-A5.2.03
- Author
Dr. Tibor S. Balint, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States
- Year
2005
- Abstract
NASA's proposed roadmap for robotic Mars exploration over the next decade is influenced by science goals, technology needs and budgetary considerations. These requirements could introduce potential changes to the succession of missions, resulting in both technology feed forward and heritage. For long duration robotic surface missions at locations, where solar power generation is not feasible or is limited, Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) could be considered. Thus, RPSs could provide enabling power technologies for some of these missions, covering a power range from 10s of milliwatts to potentially a kilowatt or even higher. Currently NASA and DoE with their industry partners are developing two RPSs, both generating about 110 We at BOL. These systems will be made available as early as 2009. The MMRTG – with static power conversion – was down-selected for the MSL mission, while the SRG – with dynamic power conversion – is under consideration for other proposed next decade missions. Based on last year's Notice of Intent (NoI) and on the upcoming Request for Proposals (RFP), development of small-RPSs is in a planning stage by NASA and DoE; potentially targeting both the 10s of milliwatts and 10s of watts power ranges. If developed, RHU based systems – generating 10s to 100s of milliwatts – could power small adjunct elements on larger missions, while the GPHS module based systems – each generating 10s of watts – could be stacked to provide the required power levels on MER class surface assets. MMRTGs and SRGs could power MSL class or larger missions. Advanced Radioisotope Power Systems (ARPS) with higher specific powers and increased power conversion efficiencies could enhance or even enable missions towards the second half of the next decade. This study examines the available power system options and power selection strategies in line with the proposed mission lineup, and identifies the benefits and utility of the various options for each of the next decade launch opportunities.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-A5.2.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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