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Nuclear reactor power for an electrically powered orbital transfer vehicleTo help determine the systems requirements for a 300-kWe space nuclear reactor power system, a mission and spacecraft have been examined which utilize electric propulsion and this nuclear reactor power for multiple transfers of cargo between low earth orbit (LEO) and geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO). A propulsion system employing ion thrusters and xenon propellant was selected. Propellant and thrusters are replaced after each sortie to GEO. The mass of the Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV), empty and dry, is 11,000 kg; nominal propellant load is 5000 kg. The OTV operates between a circular orbit at 925 km altitude, 28.5 deg inclination, and GEO. Cargo is brought to the OTV by Shuttle and an Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV); the OTV then takes it to GEO. The OTV can also bring cargo back from GEO, for transfer by OMV to the Shuttle. OTV propellant is resupplied and the ion thrusters are replaced by the OMV before each trip to GEO. At the end of mission life, the OTV's electric propulsion is used to place it in a heliocentric orbit so that the reactor will not return to earth. The nominal cargo capability to GEO is 6000 kg with a transit time of 120 days; 1350 kg can be transferred in 90 days, and 14,300 kg in 240 days. These capabilities can be considerably increased by using separate Shuttle launches to bring up propellant and cargo, or by changing to mercury propellant.
Document ID
19870053871
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Jaffe, L.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Beatty, R.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Bhandari, P.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Chow, E.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Deininger, W.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Ewell, R.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Fujita, T.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Grossman, M.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Kia, T.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Nesmith, B.
(California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1987
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 87-1102
Accession Number
87A41145
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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