Estimates of power requirements for a manned Mars rover powered by a nuclear reactor

This paper assesses the power requirement for a Manned Mars Rover vehicle. Auxiliary power needs are fulfilled using a hybrid solar photovoltaic/regenerative fuel cell system, while the primary power needs are met using an SP‐100 type reactor. The primary electric power needs, which include 30‐kW_e net user power, depend on the reactor thermal power and the efficiency of the power conversion system. Results show that an SP‐100 type reactor coupled to a Free Piston Stirling Engine (FPSE) yields the lowest total vehicle mass and lowest specific mass for the power system. The second lowest mass was for a SP‐100 reactor coupled to a Closed Brayton Cycle (CBC) using He/Xe as the working fluid. The specific mass of the nuclear reactor power systrem, including a man‐rated radiation shield, ranged from 150‐kg/kW_e to 190‐kg/kW_e and the total mass of the Rover vehicle varied depend upon the cruising speed.