Nuclear Thermal Propulsion - NASA

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National Aeronautics and Space Admin istration

Nuclear Thermal Propulsion:

An Overview of NASA Development Efforts

Ryan Wilkerson| Presented at Missouri S&T | 1031.19

Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Background

How do we assess engine performance?

Thrust

Rocket Thrust Equation = + ( - )

Equivalent Velocity

=

+

(

- )

=

Thrust is an indicator of how hard an engine can push

Specific Impulse

Total Impulse = =

Specific Impulse

=

=

=

Specific impulse indicates how efficiently an engine uses propellant

Current engine architectures

Chemical Engines

Sea Level Thrust (klbf)

Vacuum Thrust (klbf)

SRB-SS 2800

-

SRB-SLS 3600 -

F-1 1800 2020.7

J-2 109.3 232.3

Sea Level ISP (s)

242

269

269.7

200

Vacuum ISP (s)

-

-

303.1

421

Propellant

PBAN-APCP PBAN-APCP LO2/RP-1 LO2/LH2

Advanced Propulsion

RS-25

Ion NEP

NTP

418

-

-

512.3 2E-5 - 2E-2

25-250

366

-

-

452.3 2000-8000 800-1000

LO2/LH2

Xe

LH2

Saturn V

Current engine architectures

Chemical Engines

Sea Level Thrust (klbf)

Vacuum Thrust (klbf)

SRB-SS 2800

-

SRB-SLS 3600 -

F-1 1800 2020.7

J-2 109.3 232.3

Sea Level ISP (s)

242

269

269.7

200

Vacuum ISP (s)

-

-

303.1

421

Propellant

PBAN-APCP PBAN-APCP LO2/RP-1

L--

LO2/LH2

SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER-SRI

Advanced Propulsion

RS-25

Ion NEP

NTP

418

-

-

512.3 2E-5 - 2E-2

25-250

366

-

-

452.3 2000-8000 800-1000

LO2/LH2

Xe

LH2

Space Shuttle

Current engine architectures

Chemical Engines

Sea Level Thrust (klbf)

Vacuum Thrust (klbf)

SRB-SS 2800

-

SRB-SLS 3600 -

F-1 1800 2020.7

J-2 109.3 232.3

Sea Level ISP (s)

242

269

269.7

200

Vacuum ISP (s)

-

-

303.1

421

Propellant

PBAN-APCP PBAN-APCP LO2/RP-1 LO2/LH2

Advanced Propulsion

RS-25

Ion NEP

NTP

418

-

-

512.3 2E-5 - 2E-2

25-250

366

-

-

452.3 2000-8000 800-1000

LO2/LH2

Xe

LH2

Space Launch System

Current engine architectures

Chemical Engines

Sea Level Thrust (klbf)

Vacuum Thrust (klbf)

SRB-SS 2800

-

SRB-SLS 3600 -

F-1 1800 2020.7

J-2 109.3 232.3

Sea Level ISP (s)

242

269

269.7

200

Vacuum ISP (s)

-

-

303.1

421

Propellant

PBAN-APCP PBAN-APCP LO2/RP-1 LO2/LH2

Advanced Propulsion

RS-25

Ion NEP

NTP

418

-

-

512.3 2E-5 - 2E-2

25-250

366

-

-

452.3 2000-8000 800-1000

LO2/LH2

Xe

LH2

Ion Engine

Mars Transit Vehicle

There are many uses for nuclear power in space

Radioisotope Thermal Electric Generators

Nuclear Electric Propulsion

Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

Electricity Generation to Power Thruster

)He

alpha patl!Cle

Direct Heating of Propellant to Provide Thrust

8

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