IAC-02-S.4.02 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR A NUCLEAR ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEM

NASA is developing propulsion technologies potentially leading to the implementation of a nuclear electric propulsion system supporting robotic exploration of the solar system. The mission limitations imposed by the use of today’s predominantly chemical propulsion systems are many: long trip times, minimal science payload mass, minimal power at the destination for science, and the near-impossibility of encountering multiple targets or even orbiting distant destinations. Performance-based mission analysis, comparing a first generation nuclear electric propulsion system with chemical and solar electric propulsion was performed and will be described in the paper