Comparison of Solar Electric and Chemical Propulsion Missions
Comparison of Solar Electric and Chemical Propulsion Missions
- New search for: J. E. Freeh
- New search for: L. M. Burke
- New search for: W. K. Sjauw
- New search for: M. L. McGuire
- New search for: B. K. Smith
- New search for: J. E. Freeh
- New search for: L. M. Burke
- New search for: W. K. Sjauw
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Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) offers fuel efficiency and mission robustness for spacecraft. The combination of solar power and electric propulsion engines is currently used for missions ranging from geostationary stationkeeping to deep space science because of these benefits. Both solar power and electric propulsion technologies have progressed to the point where higher electric power systems can be considered, making substantial cargo missions and potentially human missions viable. This paper evaluates and compares representative lunar, Mars, and Sun-Earth Langrangian point missions using SEP and chemical propulsion subsystems. The potential benefits and limitations are discussed along with technology gaps that need to be resolved for such missions to become possible. The connection to NASA's human architecture and technology development efforts will be discussed.
Document information
Comparison of Solar Electric and Chemical Propulsion Missions
2015
8 pages
Report
No indication
English
Space Technology , Cargo spacecraft , Spacecraft propulsion , Payload transfer , Propulsive efficiency , Solar electric propulsion , Energy conversion efficiency , Chemical propulsion , Propulsion system performance , Transit time , Research and development , Earth-moon trajectories , Mars missions , Lagrangian function , Trajectory analysis , Technology assessment