Radioisotope electric propulsion of sciencecraft to the outer solar system and near-interstellar space

Abstract

Recent results are presented in the study of radioisotope electric propulsion as a near-term technology for sending small robotic sciencecraft to the outer Solar System and near-interstellar space. Radioisotope electric propulsion (REP) systems are low-thrust, ion propulsion units based on radioisotope electric generators and ion thrusters. Powerplant specific masses are expected to be in the range of 100 to 200 kg/kW of thrust power. Planetary rendezvous missions to Pluto, fast missions to the heliopause (100 AU) with the capability to decelerate an orbiter for an extended science program and prestellar missions to the first gravitational lens focus of the Sun (550 AU) are investigated.

Radioisotope electric propulsion (REP): A near-term approach to nuclear propulsion

“…The earliest studies of REP were conducted by Robert Noble of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory [2][3][4]. He evaluated the technology for sending small robotic spacecraft to the outer Solar System and near-interstellar space.…”

Mission Design for the Innovative Interstellar Explorer Vision Mission

“…In this work, we detail the mission design studies for such a mission, dubbed the Innovative Interstellar Explorer (IIE) using radioisotope electric propulsion (REP) 20 . In an REP spacecraft, the power system mass is the major mass driver, and overall miniaturization, where possible, is paramount.…”

Radioisotope electric propulsion missions utilizing a common spacecraft design

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] More recent work has shown that such radioisotope electric propulsion (REP) spacecraft can orbit or co-orbit various large and small science targets beyond Mars with transit times comparable to large fission-based nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) vehicles, but deliver less science payload with proportionately less power available for science instruments. Although REP vehicles would be much smaller and have less on-board power available for science instruments than fissionbased NEP, REP vehicles, like those using NEP, could conduct missions that are not accessible to chemical, solar electric or aerocapture vehicles.…”