Nuclear rocket using indigenous Martian fuel NIMF

In the 1960's, Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) engines were developed and ground tested capable of yielding isp of up to 900 s at thrusts up to 250 klb. Numerous trade studies have shown that such traditional hydrogen fueled NTR engines can reduce the inertial mass low earth orbit (IMLEO) of lunar missions by 35 percent and Mars missions by 50 to 65 percent. The same personnel and facilities used to revive the hydrogen NTR can also be used to develop NTR engines capable of using indigenous Martian volatiles as propellant. By putting this capacity of the NTR to work in a Mars descent/acent vehicle, the Nuclear rocket using Indigenous Martian Fuel (NIMF) can greatly reduce the IMLEO of a manned Mars mission, while giving the mission unlimited planetwide mobility.

Acquisition Source

Legacy CDMS

Document Type

Conference Paper

Authors

Date Acquired

September 6, 2013

Publication Date

January 1, 1991

Publication Information

Publication: NASA. Lewis Research Center, Nuclear Thermal Propulsion: A Joint NASA(DOE)DOD Workshop

Subject Category

Accession Number

92N11098

Distribution Limits

Public

Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

Name

Type

19920001880.pdf

STI

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