Comparison of trajectory profiles and nuclear-propulsion-module arrangements for manned Mars and Mars-Venus missions
[electronic resource] /
Edward A. Willis, Jr.

Description

Main Author

Willis, Edward A. Jr.

Related Names

Lewis Research Center.
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Language(s)

English

Published

Washington, D.C. : National Aeronautics and Space Administration : 1971.

Subjects

Nuclear propulsion.
Space vehicles > Space vehicles / propulsion.

Summary

A brief comparison is made between opposition class (with three impulse return), conjunction class, Venus swing-by to Mars and Mars-Venus double stopover trajectories. Vehicle configurations based on NERVA-I engines of varying life and restart capability are considered. It is found that the opposition and Venus swingby trajectories to Mars yield competitive mission performance; the double stopover entails about 30-percent penalties in initial mass and trip time; and that the minimum-weight vehicle uses a single, restartable engine.

Physical Description

29 p. : ill. ; 27 cm.

Locate a Print Version

Find in a library

Viewability