Progress in the development of Mars in situ propellant production systems

Zubrin, Robert; Frankie, Brian; Muscatello, Tony; Kito-Borsa, Tomoko

doi:10.2514/6.1999-855

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…A major problem in the technologies based on CO 2 electrolysis is that zirconia electrolyzers are fragile and require high operating temperatures (>1000 K). This drawback is eliminated in the second methodology [7][8][9][10][11], which brings liquid hydrogen to Mars and then uses it with the Martian CO 2 in a chemical plant to produce hydrocarbon fuel (e.g., methane, methanol, ethylene) and oxygen. The chemical plant includes a Sabatier reactor, a water electrolyzer, and may also include a reverse water-gas shift reactor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metal-CO2 Propulsion for Mars Missions: Current Status and Opportunities

Shafirovich

Varma

2008

Journal of Propulsion and Power

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metal-CO2 Propulsion for Mars Missions: Current Status and Opportunities

Shafirovich

Varma

2008

Journal of Propulsion and Power

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Solar-Sail-Based Stopover Cyclers for Cargo Transportation Missions

Mengali

Quarta

2007

Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

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This paper addresses the problem of investigating promising options for cargo transportation in support of long duration robotic and human planetary missions. Because the propellant consumption plays a major role in these\ud\ud missions, we study stopover cyclers that use solar sails to connect the starting and the target planet periodically. To simplify the problem, circular and coplanar planetary orbits are assumed. Nevertheless, the real optical solar sail\ud\ud characteristics are taken into account and a comparison is established with respect to an ideal sail model. The\ud\ud advantages of stopover cyclers over classic cycler trajectories are obtained in terms of lower departure and arrival velocities, more flexibility in the design of the planet-centered orbit, and the elimination of the hyperbolic rendezvous\ud\ud without introducing propellant penalties. The feasibility of the proposed methodology is established by simulating stopover cyclers toward Mars, Venus, and Jupiter. A thorough investigation of the obtainable performance is given as a function of the solar sail optical parameters

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Advanced Space Storable Propellants for Outer Planet Exploration

Thunnissen

Guernsey

Baker

et al. 2004

40th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit

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An evaluation of the feasibility and mission performance benefits of using advanced space storable propellants for outer planet exploration was performed. For the purpose of this study, space storable propellants are defined to be propellants which can be passively stored without the need for active cooling. A secondary purpose o f this study was to provide guidance as to the limits, benefits, and possible methods of passively storing such mild cryogenic propellants for deep space missions. The study was composed of four distinct efforts. First, candidate propellants were defined and their relevant properties determined. Second, a propellant combination analysis using the Two Dimensional Kinetics 1997 (TDK97) program was conducted. Third, a thermal storage design was analyzed. Lastly, a mission and systems analysis was performed for three outer planetary missions. The missions are representative in complexity, duration, and requirements for a variegated set of outer planet exploration missions currently being considered by NASA. Nonetheless, the analysis conducted and outlined in this paper determined that outer planet exploration using advanced storable propellants was feasible and offered a significant benefit in delivered payload compared to previous design studies.

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Progress in the development of Mars in situ propellant production systems

Cited by 4 publications

References 1 publication

Metal-CO2 Propulsion for Mars Missions: Current Status and Opportunities

Metal-CO2 Propulsion for Mars Missions: Current Status and Opportunities

Solar-Sail-Based Stopover Cyclers for Cargo Transportation Missions

Advanced Space Storable Propellants for Outer Planet Exploration

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