Nuclear Thermal Propulsion: Past Accomplishments, Present Efforts, and a Look Ahead
Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 26, Issue 2
Abstract
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) has been actively involved in nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) technology development, mission, engine, and vehicle design dating back to the Rover and Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Applications programs. This technology was successfully developed in over 20 rocket/reactor tests, which demonstrated a wide range of thrust levels, high-temperature fuel, sustained engine operation, accumulated time at full power, and restart capability—everything required for a human mission to Mars. Furthermore, NTP requires no large technology scale-up. The smallest engine tested during the Rover program—the Pewee Engine—is sufficient for this when used in a clustered engine arrangement. The GRC has led every major study involving NTP since the late 1980s and has helped quantify the evolution and growth potential of the nuclear thermal rocket (NTR), which includes the bimodal and liquid-oxygen- (LOX-) augmented NTR concepts. In NASA’s recent Mars Design Reference Architecture (DRA) study, NTP reduced total mission mass over 400 t compared with chemical propulsion. Human missions to the Moon and near-Earth asteroids are also enhanced using NTP. In 2011, NASA restarted an NTP technology demonstration effort that is continuing under the Nuclear Cryogenic Propulsion Stage project, which began in 2012. Ground demonstrations of a small, scalable NTR by 2020 are envisioned, with a flight demonstration shortly thereafter.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Argonne National Laboratory. (1968). “Nuclear rocket program terminal report.” Rep. ANL7236, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL.
Baldwin, D., and Clark, J. S. (1993). “Space exploration initiative candidate nuclear propulsion test facilities.” Rep. TM–105710, NASA, Cleveland.
Bennett, G. L., et al. (1994). “Prelude to the future: A brief history of nuclear thermal propulsion in the United States.” A critical review of space nuclear power and propulsion 1984–1993, M. S. El-Genk, ed., American Institute of Physics Press, New York, 221–267.
Bhattacharyya, S. K. (2001). “An assessment of fuels for nuclear thermal propulsion.” Rep. ANL/TD/TM01–22, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL.
Borowski, S. K. (1991). “The rationale/benefits of nuclear thermal rocket propulsion for NASA’s lunar space transportation system.” Rep. 91–2052 (NASA TM–106739), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Borowski, S. K., et al. (1994). “A revolutionary lunar space transportation system architecture using extraterrestrial LOX-augmented NTR propulsion.” Rep. 94–3343 (NASA TM–106726), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Borowski, S. K., and Alexander, S. W. (1992). “Fast track NTR systems assessment for NASA’s first lunar outpost scenario.” Rep. 92–38212 (NASA TM–106748), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Borowski, S. K., Corban, R. R., McGuire, M. L., and Beke, E. G. (1993). “Nuclear thermal rocket/vehicle design options for future NASA missions to the Moon and Mars.” Rep. 93–4170 (NASA TM–107071), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Borowski, S. K., and Dudzinski, L. A. (1997). “2001: a space odyssey revisited—The feasibility of 24 hour commuter flights to the Moon using NTR propulsion with LUNOX afterburners.” Rep. 97–2956 (NASA/TM—1998-208830/REV1), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Borowski, S. K., Dudzinski, L. A., and McGuire, M. L. (1998). “Vehicle and mission design options for the human exploration of Mars/Phobos using ‘bimodal’ NTR and LANTR propulsion.” Rep. 98–3883 (NASA/TM—1998-208834), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Borowski, S. K., Dudzinski, L. A., and McGuire, M. L. (1999). “Artificial gravity vehicle design option for NASA’s human Mars mission using ‘bimodal’ NTR propulsion.” Rep. 99–2545, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Borowski, S. K., Dudzinski, L. A., and McGuire, M. L. (2001). “Bimodal nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) propulsion for power-rich, artificial gravity human exploration missions to Mars.” IAA-01-IAA.13.3.05, Proc., 52nd Int. Astro. Cong., International Astronautical Federation, Paris.
Borowski, S. K., McCurdy, D. R., and Packard, T. W. (2009). “7-launch NTR space transportation system for NASA’s Mars design reference architecture (DRA) 5.0.” Rep. 2009–5308, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Borowski, S. K., McCurdy, D. R., and Packard, T. W. (2012a). “Modular growth NTR space transportation system for future NASA human Lunar, NEA and Mars exploration missions.” Rep. 2012‒5144, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Borowski, S. K., McCurdy, D. R., and Packard, T. W. (2012b). “Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP): A proven growth technology for human NEO/Mars exploration missions.” 8.1111, Proc., 2012 IEEE Aero. Conf., Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, New York.
Borowski, S. K., McCurdy, D. R., and Packard, T. W. (2012c). “Nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) propulsion: A proven game-changing technology for future human exploration missions.” GLEX-2012.09.4.6x12341, Proc., Glob. Space Explor. Conf., International Astronautical Federation, Paris.
Bowles, M. D. (2006). Science in flux: NASA’s Nuclear Program at Plum Brook Station 1955‒2005, NASA, Cleveland.
Bulman, M. J., Messitt, D. G., Neill, T. M., and Borowski, S. K. (2002). “Continued LOX-augmented nuclear thermal rocket (LANTR) testing.” Rep. 2002–3650, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Bulman, M. J., Neill, T. M., Joyner, C. R., and Borowski, S. K. (2004). “LANTR engine system integration.” Rep. 2004–3864, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Burkes, D., et al. (2007). “The rationale and justification for selection of carbide ‘composite’ and ceramic metallic ‘cermet’ NTP fuel options.” White paper prepared by Dept. of Energy/NASA for NASA Headquarters, NASA, Washington, DC.
Corban, R. R., ed. (1993). “Nuclear propulsion technical interchange meeting.” Rep. CP–10116, NASA, Cleveland.
Drake, B. G., ed. (2009). “Human exploration of Mars design reference architecture 5.0.” Rep. SP–2009–566, NASA, Washington, DC.
Emrich, W. J., and Kirk, D. R. (2006). “Design considerations for the nuclear thermal rocket element environmental simulator (NTREES).” Rep. 2006–5270, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
General Electric. (1968). “710 high-temperature gas reactor program summary report: Volume III—Fuel element development.” Rep. GEMP–600–V3, General Electric, Schenectady, NY.
Houts, M. G., et al. (2012). “Nuclear cryogenic propulsion stage.” Proc., Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS) 2012 Conf., American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park, IL.
Joyner, C. R. (2000). “The synergistic application of chemical rocket component technologies to the ESCORT nuclear bimodal system.” Rep. 2000–3211, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Joyner, C. R., Phillips, J. E., Fowler, R. B., and Borowski, S. K. (2004). “TRITON: A trimodal capable, thrust optimized, nuclear propulsion and power system for advanced space missions.” Rep. 2004–3863, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Kennedy, J. F. (1962). “Special message to the congress on urgent national needs.” Public Papers of the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.
Koeing, D. R. (1986). “Experience gained from the space nuclear rocket programs (Rover/NERVA).” Rep. LA–10062–H, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM.
NASA. (1989). “Report of the 90-day study on human exploration of the Moon and Mars.” Rep. TM–102999, NASA, Washington, DC.
NASA. (1998). “Reference mission version 3.0 addendum to the human exploration of Mars: The reference mission of the NASA Mars exploration study team.” Rep. EX13–98038, NASA, Houston.
Rom, F. E., et al. (1967). “Feasibility study of a tungsten water-moderated nuclear rocket.” Rep. TM X–1420 to X–425, NASA, Cleveland.
Taub, J. M. (1975). “A review of fuel element development for nuclear rocket engines.” Rep. LA–5931, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM.
The Synthesis Group. (1991). America at the threshold: America’s space exploration initiative, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 11, 2012
Accepted: Nov 30, 2012
Published online: Mar 15, 2013
Published in print: Apr 1, 2013
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.