Propulsion Systems for Manned Mars Missions

With the advent of human space travel becoming more and more viable with a continued effort and drive from the private sector in the recent 10 years the dream of space travel for regular people is slowly but surely becoming realized. Private space companies such as Virgin Galactic, Space X, Ad Astra and many more around the world are racing to the ‘final frontier’ trying to produce a viable and commercially successful, profitable business. With many opportunities both financial and ideological to be had, the push for space exploration is reaching levels that were present during the US – USSR space race of the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. The interest this time not coming from a military drive for dominance, but rather from the newer, younger generation of CEO’s, aspiring scientists and engineers sold on the romanticized ideals of space exploration. But the question of why remains an existential one for many earth bound mammals. Many who support the idea of space travel as not only a means of greater understanding of our universe but of a greater quest to understand our place in it. A destination frequently purported by supporters of the scientific philosophy and one of space exploration is, in terms of average distance, is our second closest neighbor, Mars. With the closest orbital distance to earth at approximately INSERT FIGURE it would take approximately LOTS M8 days for a return trip for travel time alone with conventional chemical propulsion, assuming the mission starts in low earth orbit (LEO) then into an orbit around mars then return to LEO. Nuclear propulsion systems are becoming an increasingly popular and practical technology for reducing that travel time by up to 200 days, with some estimates claiming with a large enough power supply transit times of VALUE weeks one way can be achieved CITATION. This leaves the question of what are these propulsion systems and where do they get their power requirements.

This report will focus on the most popular ideas and projects being tested today which include some already well-established technologies as well some that have only just entered the laboratory.

There will also be some focus on the power plants that will provide the energy necessary to cross the interspatial void between the planets.

Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR)

The NTR presents a great advantage over traditional chemical propulsion systems. NTR uses fission reactions to generate thermal power, which in turn heats a liquid propellant to produce thrust.