Innovative High-Power Propulsion Technologies for Orbital Transfer Vehicles

A fully integrated nuclear MHD-MPD electric propulsion system is proposed with potential to provide quantum improvement in the thrust level, specific impulse (ISP) and efficiency of MHD power system as well as the MPD thruster. The proposed MHD-MPD electric propulsion system is intended to be used as an orbital transfer vehicle for multiple uses with a single propellant tank and potential for in-orbit replacement of the spent propellant tank. Due to similarity in design, the power generated by the MHD generator could be conditioned to directly drive the MPD thruster. This would eliminate or at least significantly reduce the need for the power management and conditioning system that is a major weight and size burden for all conventional high power electric propulsion systems. The coupled MHD-MPD system could also share the high field magnet and some other auxiliary sub-systems to further reduce the overall weight, size, and complexity of the new reusable orbital transfer vehicle. The proposed MHD-MPD electric propulsion system function as a transformer with high mass flow rate and relatively low velocity on the primary (MHD) side and low mass flow rate and extremely high velocity on the secondary (MPD) side.