A Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systemfora Pressurized Lunar/Mars Rover

Steve Oleson; Pa ul Schmitz; Michael B. Smith; Tony Colozza; Lucia Tia n; Brandon Klefman; Steven Korn; Max Cha Iken; Tom Packard; Jim Fittje; John Gyekenyesi; Eliza beth Turnbull

doi:10.13182/NETS22-38884

A Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systemfora Pressurized Lunar/Mars Rover

Steve Oleson, Pa ul Schmitz, Michael B. Smith, Tony Colozza, Lucia Tia n, Brandon Klefman, Steven Korn, Max Cha Iken, Tom Packard, Jim Fittje, John Gyekenyesi, Eliza beth Turnbull

Systems Analysis and Optimization

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

A self-sufficient pressurized rover needs adequate power and energyto providelife support, communications, science, and mobility. The Compass Team performed a study investigating how a dynamic radioisotope power system (DRPS)might fulfill thoseneeds. The teamassessed impacts ofradiationonthe crewas wellas how tointegrate such a system. Three 1.2 kWe DRPS systems provide sufficient power forallbutmobilityand a batterysystemis used (charged bytheDRPS)to provide the roughly10kWe power for severalhoursof driving per day. By carrying the Pu238 externally, about2 maway fromthe pressurevessel, the crew cansafelyoperatethevehicle for many weeks. An external radiator is needed to support the Stirling power systems. The totalPu238 loadis around 20kg [48general purpose heat sources (GPHS)], which is slightly less than that carried by the Cassini spacecraft. Alternate power options of stand-alone fuel cells and solar arrays found that these systems were heavier, harder to operate, and/or had limited operating times. The DRPS option is truly a stand-alone solution to pressurized rover operation on Mars or the Moon.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2022
Publisher	American Nuclear Society
Pages	263-270
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Electronic)	9780894487828
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.13182/NETS22-38884
State	Published - 2022
Event	2022 Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2022 - Cleveland, United States Duration: May 8 2022 → May 12 2022

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2022

Conference

Conference	2022 Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2022
Country/Territory	United States
City	Cleveland
Period	05/8/22 → 05/12/22

Funding

This conceptual design wa s performed for the RPS office, STMD, a nd the Mars Assessment Team. The Compass Team wishes to thank the support of Michelle Rucker, Ta ylor Phillips-Hungerford, Bret Dra ke, a nd Jeff George of NASA-JSC for their pa rticipation in this design.

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10.13182/NETS22-38884

Cite this

Oleson, S., Schmitz, P. U., Smith, M. B., Colozza, T., Tia n, L., Klefman, B., Korn, S., Iken, M. C., Packard, T., Fittje, J., Gyekenyesi, J., & Turnbull, E. B. (2022). A Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systemfora Pressurized Lunar/Mars Rover. In Proceedings of Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2022 (pp. 263-270). (Proceedings of Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2022). American Nuclear Society. https://doi.org/10.13182/NETS22-38884

@inproceedings{10fd93277698477699f4facdfb1285eb,

title = "A Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systemfora Pressurized Lunar/Mars Rover",

abstract = "A self-sufficient pressurized rover needs adequate power and energyto providelife support, communications, science, and mobility. The Compass Team performed a study investigating how a dynamic radioisotope power system (DRPS)might fulfill thoseneeds. The teamassessed impacts ofradiationonthe crewas wellas how tointegrate such a system. Three 1.2 kWe DRPS systems provide sufficient power forallbutmobilityand a batterysystemis used (charged bytheDRPS)to provide the roughly10kWe power for severalhoursof driving per day. By carrying the Pu238 externally, about2 maway fromthe pressurevessel, the crew cansafelyoperatethevehicle for many weeks. An external radiator is needed to support the Stirling power systems. The totalPu238 loadis around 20kg [48general purpose heat sources (GPHS)], which is slightly less than that carried by the Cassini spacecraft. Alternate power options of stand-alone fuel cells and solar arrays found that these systems were heavier, harder to operate, and/or had limited operating times. The DRPS option is truly a stand-alone solution to pressurized rover operation on Mars or the Moon.",

author = "Steve Oleson and Schmitz, {Pa ul} and Smith, {Michael B.} and Tony Colozza and {Tia n}, Lucia and Brandon Klefman and Steven Korn and Iken, {Max Cha} and Tom Packard and Jim Fittje and John Gyekenyesi and Turnbull, {Eliza beth}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Proceedings of Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2022. All Rights Reserved.; 2022 Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2022 ; Conference date: 08-05-2022 Through 12-05-2022",

year = "2022",

doi = "10.13182/NETS22-38884",

language = "English",

series = "Proceedings of Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2022",

publisher = "American Nuclear Society",

pages = "263--270",

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Oleson, S, Schmitz, PU, Smith, MB, Colozza, T, Tia n, L, Klefman, B, Korn, S, Iken, MC, Packard, T, Fittje, J, Gyekenyesi, J & Turnbull, EB 2022, A Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systemfora Pressurized Lunar/Mars Rover. in Proceedings of Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2022. Proceedings of Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2022, American Nuclear Society, pp. 263-270, 2022 Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2022, Cleveland, United States, 05/8/22. https://doi.org/10.13182/NETS22-38884

A Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systemfora Pressurized Lunar/Mars Rover. / Oleson, Steve; Schmitz, Pa ul; Smith, Michael B. et al.
Proceedings of Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2022. American Nuclear Society, 2022. p. 263-270 (Proceedings of Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2022).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Klefman, Brandon

AU - Korn, Steven

AU - Iken, Max Cha

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AU - Gyekenyesi, John

AU - Turnbull, Eliza beth

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N2 - A self-sufficient pressurized rover needs adequate power and energyto providelife support, communications, science, and mobility. The Compass Team performed a study investigating how a dynamic radioisotope power system (DRPS)might fulfill thoseneeds. The teamassessed impacts ofradiationonthe crewas wellas how tointegrate such a system. Three 1.2 kWe DRPS systems provide sufficient power forallbutmobilityand a batterysystemis used (charged bytheDRPS)to provide the roughly10kWe power for severalhoursof driving per day. By carrying the Pu238 externally, about2 maway fromthe pressurevessel, the crew cansafelyoperatethevehicle for many weeks. An external radiator is needed to support the Stirling power systems. The totalPu238 loadis around 20kg [48general purpose heat sources (GPHS)], which is slightly less than that carried by the Cassini spacecraft. Alternate power options of stand-alone fuel cells and solar arrays found that these systems were heavier, harder to operate, and/or had limited operating times. The DRPS option is truly a stand-alone solution to pressurized rover operation on Mars or the Moon.

AB - A self-sufficient pressurized rover needs adequate power and energyto providelife support, communications, science, and mobility. The Compass Team performed a study investigating how a dynamic radioisotope power system (DRPS)might fulfill thoseneeds. The teamassessed impacts ofradiationonthe crewas wellas how tointegrate such a system. Three 1.2 kWe DRPS systems provide sufficient power forallbutmobilityand a batterysystemis used (charged bytheDRPS)to provide the roughly10kWe power for severalhoursof driving per day. By carrying the Pu238 externally, about2 maway fromthe pressurevessel, the crew cansafelyoperatethevehicle for many weeks. An external radiator is needed to support the Stirling power systems. The totalPu238 loadis around 20kg [48general purpose heat sources (GPHS)], which is slightly less than that carried by the Cassini spacecraft. Alternate power options of stand-alone fuel cells and solar arrays found that these systems were heavier, harder to operate, and/or had limited operating times. The DRPS option is truly a stand-alone solution to pressurized rover operation on Mars or the Moon.

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A Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systemfora Pressurized Lunar/Mars Rover

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