PEGASUS - A multi-megawatt nuclear electric propulsion systemA propulsion system (The PEGASUS Drive) consisting of a magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster driven by a multimegawatt nuclear power system is proposed as the propulsion system for a manned Mars mission. The propulsion system described is based on a mission profile containing a 510-day burn time (for a mission time of approximately 1000 days). Electric propulsion systems have significant advantages over chemical systems, because of high specific impulse, lower propellant requirements, and lower system mass. The thermal power for the PEGASUS Drive is supplied by a boiling liquid-metal fast reactor. The system consists of the reactor, reactor shielding, power conditioning, heat rejection, and MPD thruster subsystems. It is capable of providing a maximum of 8.5 megawatts of electrical power of which 6 megawatts is needed for the thruster system, 1.5 megawatts is available for spacecraft system operations and inflight mission applications, leaving the balance for power system operation.
Document ID
19860057991
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Coomes, E. P. (Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs. Richland, WA, United States)
Cuta, J. M. (Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs. Richland, WA, United States)
Webb, B. J. (Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory Richland, WA, United States)
King, D. Q. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena; Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland WA, United States)