High Power MPD Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) for Artificial Gravity HOPE Missions to Callisto

The following paper documents the results of a one‐year multi‐center NASA study on the prospect of sending humans to Jupiter’s moon, Callisto, using an all Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) space transportation system architecture with magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters. The fission reactor system utilizes high temperature uranium dioxide (UO2) in tungsten (W) metal matrix “cermet” fuel and electricity is generated using advanced dynamic Brayton power conversion technology. The mission timeframe assumes on‐going human Moon and Mars missions and existing space infrastructure to support launch of cargo and crewed spacecraft to Jupiter in 2041 and 2045, respectively.