Nuclear electric propulsion missions

This paper reviews nuclear electric propulsion technology and missions. The science objectives and mission performance of the following five missions are presented: (1) Neptune orbiter, (2) Saturn ring rendezvous, (3) an asteroid sample return, (4) a comet sample return, and (5) an interstellar precursor mission. A short status of the reactor and thermal to electric conversion technologies is given as well as a brief discussion of ion thruster technology. A specific nuclear reactor power system concept is presented that produces 100 kWe and has a mass of about 2600 kg. Mission performance in terms of payload and flight time is presented for all five missions. Heliocentric trajectories are presented for the Neptune orbiter, Saturn ring rendezvous, and Comet Tempel 2 nucleus sample return missions.