Showing papers by "Michael Todosow published in 1998"

MITEE: A new nuclear engine concept for ultra fast, lightweight solar system exploration missions

Abstract: A new ultra compact nuclear engine concept, MITEE (MI¯niature R_eactor E_nginE_), is described, and its performance evaluated for various solar system exploration missions The MITEE concept is based on the Particle Bed Reactor (PBR), with modifications that enable a smaller, lighter nuclear engine A range of MITEE Engine designs is described Representative design parameters for the baseline MITEE reactor are: 75MW(th) power level, 1000 second Isp, 100 kilogram mass, 10 MW/Liter fuel element power density, 39 cm core diameter/height Total engine mass, including turbo pump assembly, nozzles, controls, and contingency, is estimated to be 200 kilograms Using the MITEE engine, ultra fast, lightweight solar system exploration missions are enabled A range of such missions has been analyzed using the MULIMP code, and are described