In Situ Propellant Production for improved sample return mission performanceIn Situ Propellant Production (ISPP) on the surface of a target body is evaluated as a potential way to relax sample return mass constraints and to improve mission performance. Utilization of an oxygen/methane bipropellant combination for primary outbound and return propulsion has a significant favorable impact upon Earth escape requirements. A small sample can be returned from Mars using a single Shuttle/IUS(Twin) launch. Performance and design data are presented for the Mars mission. For sample returns from selected Galilean satellites, launch requirements are reduced by fifteen to forty percent. An assessment is made of overall utility of ISPP to planetary missions.
Document ID
19800040548
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Stancati, M. L. (Science Applications, Inc. Schaumburg, IL, United States)
Niehoff, J. C. (Science Applications, Inc. Schaumburg, IL, United States)
Wells, W. C. (Science Applications, Inc. Schaumburg, IL, United States)
Feingold, H. (Science Applications, Inc. Schaumburg, Ill., United States)
Ash, R. L. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena Calif., United States)