Abstract
NASA has recently identified Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) as a critical technology for the human exploration of Mars. Recent studies have also demonstrated its unique capabilities towards enabling deep space exploration robotic missions with higher payload mass and/or reduced trip times. This game changing technology can also provide the efficient cargo and crew transportation through cislunar space for sustained human presence on the Moon. The NTP systems capability of generating both high thrust and high specific impulse (over twice of the best chemical propulsion systems) can enable a variety of lunar missions (rendezvous and round-trip) which can play critical role in the next phase of lunar exploration. This paper presents the applications of the NTP for sustainable cislunar exploration and identifies the most efficient architectures and engine thrust class for host of lunar missions.
Published Version
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