ANALYSIS OF NUCLEAR THERMAL PROPULSION (NTP) ENABLED HELIOPAUSE TRAJECTORIES, USING SOLAR-OBERTH MANEUVERS

摘要

This paper focuses on the application of nuclear thermal propulsion to reach the heliopause and exit the solar system on significantly shorter timescales than possible with chemical propulsion. We employ calculations based on the well-known Oberth Method. Advances in nuclear thermal propulsion are being pursued by NASA and private companies, such as BWXT. These advances will allow for multiple large AV to be executed within a single mission and at high ISP.