INPPS Flagship: Cluster of Electric Thrusters

Paper number

IAC-19,C4,4,11,x52152

Author

Dr. Frank Jansen, Germany, DLR (German Aerospace Center)

Coauthor

Dr. Tim Brandt, Czech Republic, CTU in Prague

Coauthor

Dr. Emmanouil Detsis, France, European Science Foundation (ESF)

Coauthor

Dr. Athanasios Dafnis, Germany, RWTH Aachen University - Institut fuer Leichtbau

Coauthor

Mrs. Simona Ferraris, Italy, Thales Alenia Space Italia

Coauthor

Mr. James AP Findlay, United Kingdom, National Nuclear Laboratory

Coauthor

Dr. Ikkoh Funaki, Japan, JAXA/ISAS

Coauthor

Dr. Richard Granjon, France, Sagem Defence and Security

Coauthor

Mr. Jan Thimo Grundmann, Germany, DLR (German Aerospace Center)

Coauthor

Dr. Gerhard Grunwald, Germany, DLR (German Aerospace Center)

Coauthor

Dr. Lamartine Nogueira Frutuoso Guimaraes, Brazil, Instituto de Estudos Avancados

Coauthor

Mr. Martin Hillebrandt, Germany, Deutsch Luft und Raumfahrt Zentrum (DLR)

Coauthor

Prof. A.C. Koroteev, Russian Federation, Keldych Research Centre

Coauthor

Dr. Jim C. Kuijper, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Dr. Francois Lassoudiere, France, Airbus Safran Launchers

Coauthor

Mr. Masson Frederic, France

Coauthor

Dr. Michel Muszynski, France, Airbus Safran Launchers

Coauthor

Mr. Stephane Oriol, France, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES)

Coauthor

Mr. Martin Richter, Germany, DLR (German Aerospace Center)

Coauthor

Dr. Lars Schanz, Germany, DLR (German Aerospace Center)

Coauthor

Dr. Alexander V. Semenkin, Russian Federation, Keldych Research Centre

Coauthor

Dr. Alexander E. Solodukin, Russian Federation

Coauthor

Mr. Tim Tinsley, United Kingdom, National Nuclear Laboratory

Coauthor

Dr. Maria Cristina Tosi, Italy, Thales Alenia Space

Coauthor

Dr. Jean-Claude Worms, France, European Science Foundation

Year

2019

Abstract

This paper describes the results of the European-Russian DEMOCRITOS and MEGAHIT projects related to the electric thrusters on board the International Nuclear Power and Propulsion System (INPPS) flagship. INPPS flagship is a high power space transportation hybrid tug (power supply primary by nuclear power, by auxiliary solar power ring and chemical propulsion due to subsystems transport for assembly at high Earth orbit above 800 km) for Mars, Europa, Moon and asteroid exploration flights.

In dependence from the actual exploration mission, mission phases / trajectory and preferred international high power electric thrusters (about 20 - 50 kW) with different specific impulse, the results will be discussed in detail - also as a function of the transportable payload mass. Because of the 1 MWel nuclear reactor (successful test confirmed by Russia in 2018) as  the power supply for INPPS a cluster of about 15 electric thrusters was studied in DEMOCRITOS project for MARS and EUROPA INPPS flagships. Issues related to power processing units for the electric thrusters were identified and will be discussed. In addition low power (kW) thrusters for an INPPS flagship orbiting small inspection satellite are sketched too. 

Insofar the presentation is directly highlighting aspects of disruptive electric propulsion subsystems, within INPPS space system and applied to visionary Mars (including non-human and human) and Europa exploration and space transport tug flights.

Abstract document

IAC-19,C4,4,11,x52152.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-19,C4,4,11,x52152.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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