High Power MPD Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) for Artificial Gravity HOPE Missions to Callisto and Europa
- Paper number
IAC-13,C4,6,6,x16454
- Author
Mr. Rohan M Ganapathy, Hindusthan College of Engineering and Technology, India
- Coauthor
Mr. Anand Shanmugam, Hindusthan College of Engineering and Technology, India
- Coauthor
Dr. Ugur Guven, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Pradeep Raja P, KARPAGAM COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, India
- Year
2013
- Abstract
The following paper presents the study on the prospect of sending humans and autonomous humanoid robots to Jupiter’s moon's, Callisto and Europa, using an all Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) space transportation system architecture with magnetoplasmadynamic arc (MPD) thrusters. The fission reactor system utilizes high temperature uranium dioxide (UO2) in tungsten (W) metal matrix “cermet” fuel and electricity is generated using advanced dynamic Brayton power conversion technology. The mission timeframe assumes on-going human Moon and Mars missions and existing space infrastructure to support launch of cargo and crewed spacecraft to Jupiter in 2041 and 2045, respectively.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)