Mission analysis for hybrid thermionic nuclear reactor LEO‐to‐GEO transfer applications

This paper details the results of mission analyses concerning a hybrid STAR‐C based system, which is based on a safe solid fuel form for high‐temperature reactor core operation and a rugged planar thermionic energy converter for long‐life steady‐state electric power production. Hybrid power/propulsion system concepts are shown to offer superior performance capabilities for Low‐Earth‐Orbit (LEO) to Geosynchronous‐Earth‐Orbit (GEO) orbital transfer applications over chemical propulsion systems. A key feature of the hybrid power/propulsion system is that the propulsion system uses the on‐board payload power system. Mission results for hybrid concepts using Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP), Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP), and combination of NTP and NEP are discussed.