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A Quick Method for Estimating Vehicle Characteristics Appropriate for Continuous Thrust Round Trip Missions Within the Solar SystemA simple method of estimating vehicle parameters appropriate for interplanetary travel can provide a useful tool for evaluating the suitability of particular propulsion systems to various space missions. Although detailed mission analyses for interplanetary travel can be quite complex, it is possible to derive hirly simple correlations which will provide reasonable trip time estimates to the planets. In the present work, it is assumed that a constant thrust propulsion system propels a spacecraft on a round trip mission having equidistant outbound and inbound legs in which the spacecraft accelerates during the first portion of each leg of the journey and decelerates during the last portion of each leg of the journey. Comparisons are made with numerical calculations from low thrust trajectory codes to estimate the range of applicability of the simplified correlations.
Document ID
20060047565
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Emrich, Bill (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2006
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Meeting Information
Meeting: 42nd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit
Location: Sacramento, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: July 10, 2006
End Date: July 13, 2006
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Society for Electrical Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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