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A comparison of nuclear thermal rocket development cost and schedule for piloted missions to MarsIn Fiscal Year 1992, NASA led a team, including DOE, universities, and industry, that evaluated various schedule and cost scenarios for development of nuclear thermal rocket propulsion systems for piloted Mars exploration. This paper summarizes the results of two of these studies: (1) a so-called 'Fast Track' approach, that would result in technology readiness level 6 (TRL-6-system ground testing complete) by the year 2000, and (2) a slower program that results in TRL-6 by 2006. Both scenarios included a concurrent engineering approach. Costs and schedules for the two scenarios are compared. In addition to the six-year schedule delay, the TRL-6 in 2006 scenario is estimated to increase the cost of the program from $4.7 billion to $5.8 billion (in real-year dollars). On the positive side, the technical program should be better, since nuclear testing of fuel elements may be possible prior to concept down-select, resulting in a more informed decision.
Document ID
19930066060
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Clark, John S.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Borowski, Stanley K.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Sefcik, Robert J.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Miller, Thomas J.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1993
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 93-2263
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA, SAE, ASME, and ASEE, Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit
Location: Monterey, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 28, 1993
End Date: June 30, 1993
Sponsors: AIAA, ASME, ASEE, SAE
Accession Number
93A50057
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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