National Academies Press: OpenBook
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25977.
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SPACE NUCLEAR PROPULSION
for Human Mars Exploration

Space Nuclear Propulsion Technologies Committee

Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board

Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences

A Consensus Study Report of

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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, DC
www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25977.
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001

This activity was supported by Contract No. NNH16CD01B/80HQTR20F0059 with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or agency that provided support for the project.

International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-68480-4
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-68480-3
Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/25977

Copies of this publication are available free of charge from:

Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

Additional copies of this publication are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313; http://www.nap.edu.

Copyright 2021 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25977.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25977.
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The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, nongovernmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. John L. Anderson is president.

The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president.

The three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The National Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine.

Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.nationalacademies.org.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25977.
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Consensus Study Reports published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine document the evidence-based consensus on the study’s statement of task by an authoring committee of experts. Reports typically include findings, conclusions, and recommendations based on information gathered by the committee and the committee’s deliberations. Each report has been subjected to a rigorous and independent peer-review process and it represents the position of the National Academies on the statement of task.

Proceedings published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine chronicle the presentations and discussions at a workshop, symposium, or other event convened by the National Academies. The statements and opinions contained in proceedings are those of the participants and are not endorsed by other participants, the planning committee, or the National Academies.

For information about other products and activities of the National Academies, please visit www.nationalacademies.org/about/whatwedo.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25977.
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SPACE NUCLEAR PROPULSION TECHNOLOGIES COMMITTEE

ROBERT D. BRAUN, NAE,1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Co-Chair

ROGER M. MYERS, R. Myers Consulting, LLC, Co-Chair

SHANNON M. BRAGG-SITTON, Idaho National Laboratory

JONATHAN W. CIRTAIN, BWX Technologies, Inc.

TABITHA DODSON, Gryphon-Schafer Government Services, LLC

ALEC D. GALLIMORE, NAE, University of Michigan

JAMES H. GILLAND, Ohio Aerospace Institute

BHAVYA LAL, NASA Headquarters

PARVIZ MOIN, NAS2/NAE, Stanford University

JOSEPH A. SHOLTIS, JR., Sholtis Engineering & Safety Consulting

STEVEN J. ZINKLE, NAE, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Staff

ALAN ANGLEMAN, Senior Program Officer, Study Director

COLLEEN N. HARTMAN, Director, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board and Space Studies Board

GAYBRIELLE HOLBERT, Program Assistant

___________________

1 Member, National Academy of Engineering.

2 Member, National Academy of Sciences.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25977.
×

AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ENGINEERING BOARD

ALAN H. EPSTEIN, NAE,1 Chair, Pratt & Whitney (retired)

PAMELA A. MELROY, NAE, Melroy & Hollett Technology Partners, LLC, Vice Chair

BRIAN M. ARGROW, University of Colorado, Boulder

MEYER J. BENZAKEIN, NAE, The Ohio State University

ROBERT D. BRAUN, NAE, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

EILEEN M. COLLINS, Space Presentations, LLC

EDWARD F. CRAWLEY, NAE, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MICHAEL P. DELANEY, Boeing Commercial Airplanes

WILLIAM R. GRAY III, United States Air Force

SUSAN J. HELMS, NAE, Orbital Visions, LLC

JOHN C. KARAS, Aerospace Strategic Consulting

ILAN KROO, NAE, Stanford University

ANDREW R. LACHER, Noblis

NICHOLAS D. LAPPOS, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company

VALERIE MANNING, Airbus SAS

RICHARD MCKINNEY, RWMcKinney, LLC

PARVIZ MOIN, NAS2/NAE, Stanford University

ELLEN M. PAWLIKOWSKI, Independent Consultant

ROBIE I. SAMANTA ROY, Lockheed Martin Corporation

WANDA A. SIGUR, NAE, Independent Consultant

DAVID W. THOMPSON, NAE, Orbital ATK, Inc. (retired)

SHERRIE L. ZACHARIUS, The Aerospace Corporation (retired)

Staff

COLLEEN N. HARTMAN, Director

TANJA PILZAK, Manager, Program Operations

CELESTE A. NAYLOR, Information Management Associate

MARGARET A. KNEMEYER, Financial Officer

ANDREA REBHOLZ, Program Coordinator

RADAKA LIGHTFOOT, Financial Associate

___________________

1 Member, National Academy of Engineering.

2 Member, National Academy of Sciences.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25977.
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Preface

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate requested that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convene an ad hoc committee to identify primary technical and programmatic challenges, merits, and risks for developing and demonstrating space nuclear propulsion technologies of interest to future exploration missions. The particular systems of interest were specified as nuclear thermal propulsion and nuclear electric propulsion systems. The committee was also tasked with determining the key milestones, a top-level development and demonstration roadmap, and other missions that could be enabled by successful development of these systems.

The Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board of the National Academies’ Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences assembled a committee to carry out the assigned statement of task (see Appendix A). The committee members (see Appendix C) held 14 virtual meetings during 2020 and drafted this report based on inputs received during its public meetings, additional documents reviewed by the committee, and the expertise of the members. A list of all of the findings and recommendations that appear in the main body of the report can be found in Appendix B.

Robert D. Braun, Co-Chair
Roger M. Myers, Co-Chair
Space Nuclear Propulsion Technologies Committee

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25977.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25977.
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Acknowledgment of Reviewers

This Consensus Study Report was reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in making each published report as sound as possible and to ensure that it meets the institutional standards for quality, objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We thank the following individuals for their review of this report:

Douglas M. Allen, Schafer Corporation (retired),

Douglas M. Chapin, NAE,1 MPR Associates (retired),

Antonio Elias, NAE, Orbital ATK (retired),

Christopher F. McKee, NAS,2 University of California, Berkeley,

Kelsa Benensky Palomares, Analytical Mechanics Associates, Inc.,

Gerald Prudom, Consultant (retired),

Susan S. Voss, Global Nuclear Network Analysis, LLC, and

Edward L. (Ned) Wright, NAS, University of California, Los Angeles.

Although the reviewers listed above provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations of this report nor did they see the final draft before its release. The review of this report was overseen by William Kastenberg, NAE, University of California, Berkeley (retired), and Lester Lyles, NAE, Independent Consultant. They were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with the standards of the National Academies and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content rests entirely with the authoring committee and the National Academies.

___________________

1 Member, National Academy of Engineering.

2 Member, National Academy of Sciences.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25977.
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Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration identifies primary technical and programmatic challenges, merits, and risks for developing and demonstrating space nuclear propulsion technologies of interest to future exploration missions. This report presents key milestones and a top-level development and demonstration roadmap for performance nuclear thermal propulsion and nuclear electric propulsion systems and identifies missions that could be enabled by successful development of each technology.

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