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The goal in designing any space power system is to develop a system able to meet the mission requirements for success while minimizing the overall costs. The mission requirements for the this study was to develop a reactor (with Stirling engine power conversion) and shielding configuration able to fit, along with all the other necessary science equipment, in a Cryobot 3 m high with ∼0.5 m diameter hull, produce 1 kWe for 5yrs, and not adversely affect the mission science by keeping the total integrated dose to the science equipment below 150 krad. Since in most space power missions the overall system mass dictates the mission cost, the shielding designs in this study incorporated Martian water extracted at the startup site in order to minimize the tungsten and LiH mass loading at launch. Different reliability and mass minimization concerns led to three design configuration evolutions. With the help of implementing Martian water and configuring the reactor as far from the science equipment as possible, the needed tungsten and LiH shield mass was minimized. This study further characterizes the startup dose and the necessary mission requirements in order to ensure integrity of the surface equipment during reactor startup phase. © 2006 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over three decades ago, the Apollo missions manifestly demonstrated the value of a lunar rover to expand the exploration activities of lunar astronauts. The stated plan of the new Vision for Space Exploration to establish a permanent presence on the moon in the next decades gives new impetus to providing long range roving and exploration capability in support of the siting, construction, and maintenance of future human bases. The incorporation of radioisotope power systems and telerobotic capability in the design has the potential to significantly expand the capability of such a rover, allowing continuous operation during the full lunar day/night cycle, as well as enabling exploration in permanently shadowed regions that may be of interest to humans for the resources they may hold. This paper describes a concept that builds on earlier studies originated in the Apollo program for a Dual Mode (crewed and telerobotic) Lunar Roving Vehicle (DMLRV). The goal of this vehicle would be to provide a multipurpose infrastructure element and remote science platform for the exploration of the moon. The DMLRV would be essential for extending the productivity of human exploration crews, and would provide a unique capability for diverse long-range, long-duration science exploration between human visits. With minimal reconfiguration this vehicle could also provide the basic platform to support a range of site survey and preparation activities in anticipation of the establishment of a permanent human presence on the moon. A conceptual design is presented for the DMLRV, including discussion of mission architecture, vehicle performance, representative science payload accommodation, and equipment and crew radiation considerations. © 2006 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a study was performed by a team from JPL and the DOE to develop a mission architecture for a reusable NEP Interplanetary Transfer Vehicle, a “Space Truck”. This vehicle is designed to be used for delivery of payloads from Earth to a variety of destinations, including Mars and Venus, dependent on mission needs. In addition to delivering payloads to the target bodies, the vehicle is designed to perform autonomous rendezvous and capture of sample return capsules at the destination for return to Earth. In order to maximize the utility of the vehicle, its design is optimized for servicing between missions with the Space Shuttle. Fuel tanks, ion thrusters, and Power Management and Distribution electronics are all on-orbit replaceable units, located at the payload interface end of the spacecraft to ensure a minimal radiation dose to the Shuttle and crew during maintenance and resupply operations. Operational flexibility is maximized through the use of replaceable fuel tanks and thrusters, allowing tailoring of fuel load to any given destination and payload mass. This paper discusses the preliminary design developed for the NEP Interplanetary Transfer Vehicle, including its configuration and design features, and outlines the concept for mission design, including discussion of unique requirements for launch, deployment and operations with the Space Shuttle, and rendezvous and servicing by the Shuttle in Earth orbit following a return from each target destination. © 2003 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was recently carried out by a team from JPL and the DOE to investigate the utility of a DOE-developed 3 kWe surface fission power system for Mars missions. The team was originally tasked to perform a study to evaluate the usefulness and feasibility of incorporation of such a power system into a landed mission. In the course of the study it became clear that the application of such a power system was enabling to a wide variety of potential missions. Of these, two missions were developed, one for a stationary lander and one for a reactor-powered rover. This paper discusses the design of the rover mission, which was developed around the concept of incorporating the fission power system directly into a large rover chassis to provide high power, long range traverse capability. The rover design is based on a minimum extrapolation of technology, and adapts existing concepts developed at JPL for the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, lander and EDL systems. The small size of the reactor allowed its incorporation directly into an existing large MSL rover chassis design, allowing direct use of MSL aeroshell and pallet lander elements, beefed up to support the significantly greater mass involved in the nuclear power system and its associated shielding. This paper describes the unique design challenges encountered in the development of this mission architecture and incorporation of the fission power system in the rover, and presents a detailed description of the final design of this innovative concept for providing long range, long duration mobility on Mars. © 2003 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]