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Solar System Exploration Augmented by Lunar and Outer Planet Resource Utilization: Historical Perspectives and Future PossibilitiesEstablishing a lunar presence and creating an industrial capability on the Moon may lead to important new discoveries for all of human kind. Historical studies of lunar exploration, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and industrialization all point to the vast resources on the Moon and its links to future human and robotic exploration. In the historical work, a broad range of technological innovations are described and analyzed. These studies depict program planning for future human missions throughout the solar system, lunar launched nuclear rockets, and future human settlements on the Moon, respectively. Updated analyses based on the visions presented are presented. While advanced propulsion systems were proposed in these historical studies, further investigation of nuclear options using high power nuclear thermal propulsion, nuclear surface power, as well as advanced chemical propulsion can significantly enhance these scenarios. Robotic and human outer planet exploration options are described in many detailed and extensive studies. Nuclear propulsion options for fast trips to the outer planets are discussed. To refuel such vehicles, atmospheric mining in the outer solar system has also been investigated as a means of fuel production for high energy propulsion and power. Fusion fuels such as helium 3 (3He) and hydrogen (H2) can be wrested from the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune and either returned to Earth or used in-situ for energy production. Helium 3 and H2 (deuterium, etc.) were the primary gases of interest with hydrogen being the primary propellant for nuclear thermal solid core and gas core rocket-based atmospheric flight. A series of analyses have investigated resource capturing aspects of atmospheric mining in the outer solar system. These analyses included the gas capturing rate, storage options, and different methods of direct use of the captured gases. While capturing 3He, large amounts of hydrogen and 4He are produced. With these two additional gases, the potential for fueling small and large fleets of additional exploration and exploitation vehicles exists.
Document ID
20140013161
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Palaszewski, Bryan
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
October 23, 2014
Publication Date
September 1, 2014
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
NASA/TM-2014-218136
AIAA Paper 2014-0498
E-18951-1
Meeting Information
Meeting: SciTech 2014
Location: National Harbor, MD
Country: United States
Start Date: January 13, 2014
End Date: January 17, 2014
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 203950.04.02.04
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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