Electric Propulsion Systems of Interorbital Rockets for Flights Toward Planets of the Solar System

Abstract

The projects of rockets carrying out the flights from Earth’s orbit toward planets of the Solar System are considered. Designs which make it possible to assemble the rocket from individual modules by docking are developed. In order to carry out the jet movement, the superconducting electric rocket propulsion system (SERPS), which belongs to the class of magnetoplasma electric rocket motors, has been developed. It has a superconducting exciting winding, in which the current is directed along the engine axis. This allows to increase the engine efficiency from 60 to 94%. To reduce flight time, a new technology has been developed that allows by melting ice on the surface of satellites of the planets of the Solar System (Europe, Titan, Oberon, and Triton) and by using electrolysis to produce hydrogen to refueling tank containers with working substance. A study of spacecrafts electric propulsion systems allowed to optimize the basic parameters of electric motors and onboard power supply systems. Results of the calculation show that the duration of the flight from Earth's orbit to the orbit of Mars is 40 days at the power of the electric propulsion system of 5 MW. The duration of the flight from the Earth's orbit to the orbit of Jupiter is 65 days at the power of the electric propulsion system 11 MW.KeywordsSolar system planetsInterorbital flightMagnetoplasma electric rocket engineSpace trainFlight to MarsFlight to JupiterMagnetohydrodynamic generator