HR: 16:15h
AN: P54A-02    [Abstracts]
TI: Use of an MMRTG for the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory Mission
AU: * Woerner, D F
EM: david.woerner@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, MS T1723-118, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 United States
AB: NASA is considering the use of a nuclear power source for the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. The system under consideration is an MMRTG (Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator). The MSL mission would place a rover on Mars between latitudes +/- 60 degrees. The MMRTG is being considered for this mission because it can produce adequate power for mobility and for science investigations regardless of landing site latitude and season on Mars. MSL would be about three times as massive as the Mars Exploration Rovers now active on Mars; it would carry an extensive complement of science instruments, including a coring drill. The MMRTG is one of two new radioisotope power systems (RPSs) currently being developed for space missions, and is capable of operating in a range of planetary atmospheres and in deep space. It has a mass of approximately 45 kg and produces more than 110We at beginning of mission (BOM), with a design lifetime of two years on the surface of Mars and fourteen years in deep space. Power is produced by PbTe thermoelectric elements heated by General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) "bricks." The complete system is packed into a cylindrical container that is approximately 305 mm in diameter and 630 mm long (not including the fins). The MMRTG is being designed in 3 stages: Engineering Model, Qualification Unit, and Flight Unit. At the time of this submission, the Engineering Model was being assembled and will complete environmental testing near May, 2006. Completion of testing of the Qualification Unit is slated for December, 2007. The current plan would call for delivery of a flight unit and a spare to the Kennedy Space Center in March of 2009, well ahead of the September, 2009 launch opportunity. This development is being performed by Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne (formerly Boeing Rocketdyne) and Teledyne Energy Systems under contract to the Department of Energy. Portions of this work were performed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with NASA.
DE: 1060 Planetary geochemistry (5405, 5410, 5704, 5709, 6005, 6008)
DE: 3672 Planetary mineralogy and petrology (5410)
DE: 5419 Hydrology and fluvial processes
DE: 5445 Meteorology (3346)
DE: 5470 Surface materials and properties
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005