The synergistic application of chemical rocket component technologies to the ESCORT nuclear bimodal system

Abstract

Pratt & Whitney has most recently developed the ESCORT nuclear Bimodal propulsion and power concept to meet the exploration needs of the new millennium. Pratt & Whitney defined this combined power and propulsion system in collaboration with NASA Glenn Research Center to define an advanced space propulsion system for manned Mars missions. The ESCORT design incorporates many well proven and currently in development component technologies from liquid chemical rocket engines. INTRODUCTION Reduction in transportation system mass and reduction in mission transit time have helped to identify nuclear technologies as key elements to NASA manned Mars mission architectures. Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) has been shown to allow reductions in these key areas. The primary driver in these reductions is the increased vacuum impulse (Isp) afforded by these systems. NTP systems can provide greater than 900 seconds of vacuum impulse. This is roughly twice that of typical chemical liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propulsion. In addition to providing high propulsion performance, This includes the turbopumps that will supply liquid hydrogen during propulsive mode and a carbon-carbon large area ratio nozzle. This paper/presentation will review the chemical rocket engine component technologies that are integral to the ESCORT design and show how the high technology readiness level of the ESCORT Bimodal system. The nuclear fuel element design and testing of the integrated system remains as the primary technology investment requirement. the high power density nuclear reactor in an NTP system provides an option for generating spacecraft electrical power on interplanetary missions. The nuclear reactor can be designed as a heat source for superheating hydrogen propellant for propulsion and as a heat source for a secondary working fluid for a closed cycle power conversion system. Pratt Whitney has previously defined a nuclear system design capable of delivering both propulsion and power. That design was designated the ESCORT. The original ESCORT system was capable of delivering 4448.22 N (1000 Ibf) of vacuum thrust at a vacuum impulse 1 Project Engineer, AIAA Senior Member Copyright © 2000 by Pratt & Whitney. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., with permission. 1 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (c)2000 American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics or Published with Permission of Author(s) and/or Author(s)' Sponsoring Organization.