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Transport vehicle for manned Mars missions powered by inertial confinement fusionInertial confinement fusion (ICF) is an ideal engine power source for manned spacecraft to Mars because of its inherently high power-to-mass ratios and high specific impulses. In this paper a concept is produced for a vehicle powered by ICF and utilizing a magnetic thrust chamber to avoid plasma thermalization with wall structures and the resultant degradation of specific impulse, that are unavoidable with the use of mechanical thrust chambers. This vehicle is capable of 100-day manned Mars missions with a 100-metric-ton payload and a total vehicle launch mass near 6000 metric tons, based on advanced technology assumed to be available by A.D. 2020.
Document ID
19870058014
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Orth, Charles D.
(California, University Livermore, United States)
Klein, Gail
(California Univ. Livermore, CA, United States)
Sercel, Joel
(California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, United States)
Hoffman, Nathan
(California Univ. Livermore, CA, United States)
Murray, Kathy
(Rockwell International Corp. Canoga Park, CA, United States)
Chang-Diaz, Franklin
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1987
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 87-1904
Accession Number
87A45288
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: W-7405-ENG-48
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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