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Development of High Power Lithium Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters to Support Human Mars Exploration

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Abstract

Potential future missions supporting human Mars exploration require major advances in space transportation infrastructure. Hybrid systems of nuclear electric and chemical propulsion are one option under study as part of NASA’s Moon to Mars initiative. To mature relevant technologies and provide data to support mission architecture studies, the Space Nuclear Propulsion project has recently started the development of high power lithium magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters, a potential option for nuclear electric propulsion. These electromagnetic accelerators offer very high power density and high performance, having demonstrated over 60% efficiency at specific impulses over 4000 s and power levels of 500 kWe to 1 MWe. Current work is focused on building a 100-200 kWe-class thruster and performing initial shakedown testing of an existing facility that can accommodate thrusters with power levels up to 2 MWe. Subsequent development would address the remaining technical challenges, including achieving required thruster life, at power levels of 500 kWe to 1 MWe.