Nuclear Power Systems for Manned Mission to Mars

Abstract

Nuclear power is the next enabling technology in manned exploration of the solar system. Scientists and engineers continue to design multi-megawatt power systems, yet no power system in the 100 kilowatt, electric range has been built and flown. Technology demonstrations and studies leave a myriad of systems from which decision makers can choose to build the first manned space nuclear power system. While many subsystem engineers plan in parallel, an accurate specific mass value becomes an important design specification, which is still uncertain. This thesis goes through the design features of the manned Mars mission, its power system requirements, their design attributes as well as their design faults. Specific mass is calculated statistically as well as empirically for 1-15MWe systems. Conclusions are presented on each subsystem as well as recommendations for decision makers on where development needs to begin today in order for the mission to launch in the future.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA429836

Entities

People

  • Scott J. Mcginnis

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Ceramic Materials
  • Electric Power
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Engineers
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Transfer
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Nuclear Reactors
  • Payload
  • Solar Cells
  • Spacecraft
  • Systems Engineering

Fields of Study

  • Engineering
  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.

Technology Areas

  • Space