Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1716454 | Acta Astronautica | 2008 | 11 Pages |
Abstract
Innovative interplanetary deep space missions, like a main belt asteroid sample return (SR) mission, require ever larger velocity increments (ÎV's) and thus ever more demanding propulsion capabilities. Providing much larger exhaust velocities than chemical high-thrust systems, electric low-thrust space-propulsion systems can significantly enhance or even enable such high-energy missions. In 1995, a European-Russian Joint Study Group (JSG) presented a study report on “Advanced Interplanetary Missions Using Nuclear-Electric Propulsion” (NEP). One of the investigated reference missions was an SR from the main belt asteroid (19) Fortuna. The envisaged nuclear power plant, Topaz-25, however, could not be realized and also the worldwide developments in space reactor hardware stalled. In this paper, we investigate, whether such a mission is also feasible using a solar electric propulsion (SEP) system and compare our SEP results to corresponding NEP results.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Authors
Bernd Dachwald, Wolfgang Seboldt, Horst W. Loeb, Karl-Heinz Schartner,