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Jul 11, 2012
In-Space Propulsion Engine Architecture Based on Sublimation of Planetary Resources: From Exploration Robots to NEO Mitigation
Authors: Laurent Sibille [email protected], James G. Mantovani [email protected], and Jesus A. Dominguez [email protected]Author Affiliations
Publication: Earth and Space 2012: Engineering, Science, Construction, and Operations in Challenging Environments
Abstract
Volatile solids occur naturally on most planetary bodies including the Moon, Mars, asteroids and comets. Carbon dioxide and water ices have been detected remotely at the poles or in permanently shadowed craters on Mars and on the Moon. Comets consist mostly of ice (>85% of mass), and some asteroids also contain solid ices in various amounts. In the outer Solar System, moons of the giant planets host the same resources; Ganymede, Europa and Callisto are composed of silicate rock and water ice to varying degrees, and the Cassini-Huygens probe has revealed methane snow and water ice crusts on Titan. We investigate the concept of sublimating these ices and minerals to form gases where favorable environmental conditions prevail on many bodies in the Solar System. The applications offered by this resource sublimation concept range from powering surface systems during planetary missions to deflecting Near Earth Objects (NEO) threatening our planet by in-space propulsion.
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© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Published online: Jul 11, 2012
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ESC-Team QNA (EASI), Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899.E-mail: [email protected]
NASA, Surface Systems Office, NE-S1, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899.E-mail: [email protected]
ESC-Team QNA (QinetiQ North America), Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899.E-mail: [email protected]
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