Multi-Mission Use of an Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Transport Vehicle

Space nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) technologies are poised to fundamentally transform civil, national security, and scientific missions. NTP can not only be applied to existing missions to increase efficiency - it also enables new missions that were previously infeasible to execute. The types of missions have broad applicability to the space domain, ranging from systems in Earth orbit, Earth-to-Moon missions, and exploration missions beyond cislunar space. While Mars transit vehicles or outer-planet sample return missions may have some unique requirements, there are a variety of missions that can be accomplished with a single NTP space vehicle design. Understanding the suite of valuable missions that can be accomplished with a single NTP space vehicle represents a near term opportunity to address the needs of multiple users with a common design. This paper aims to discuss the multiple missions capable of being performed with a single NTP vehicle design. In addition, this paper will also provide a high-level reference design for a representative NTP space vehicle to support system performance descriptions for those mission designs. Within this paper, we will discuss each of these potential missions in greater detail and highlight both the near-term system benefits and emerging missions that NTP technology is poised to both disrupt and enable within the coming decade.