The benefits of using nuclear electric propulsion in space.

TL;DRAbstract

Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) can offer multiple advantages in regards to space exploration. Significant gains can be realised in flight time (by eliminating the need for gravity assists, even for deep space missions), on-board power availability (with a power level an order of magnitude higher of what is available today) and payload mass delivered to the selected target. To deliver a spacecraft in the 2030-2040 timeframe, necessary ground and space demonstration missions will be required. The readiness of the system will be reached by testing of all key technologies on ground and in orbit on subsystem and system level. This includes the core, conversion, thermal management, power management and propulsion subsystems as well as the assembly of all subsystems in orbit by autonomous or remote control robotics. The MEGAHIT project has produced an incremental development plan for the realisation of a NEP spacecraft in the 2030-2040 timeframe. It has developed the high level requirement

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