ESA RocketRoll preps for Nuclear Electric Propulsion tug
by Alun Williams · Electronics Weekly.comA consortium of companies has completed an initial European Space Agency (ESA) RocketRoll project on nuclear electric propulsion for space exploration.
The companies come from the aerospace and nuclear sectors, and were led by Tractebel. They have defined a technology roadmap for achieving advanced propulsion systems capable of long-duration missions. For example, for in-space transportation in expeditions to Mars and beyond where solar power is limited.
RocketRoll
Basically, the RocketRoll project aims to harness the potential of such nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) for space missions. This is including for a space tug for very distant expeditions.
The candidate NEP design will become a European demonstrator by 2035, says the ESA. The agency outlined the project in 2022:
“The ultimate raison d’être of NEP is to explore beyond Mars orbit where solar power is limited. To develop a tug for long term and distant exploration, a stepwise implementation could be considered with a subscale tug to in-orbit demonstrating the added value of NEP with less demanding missions. In a technology push approach, and in the anticipation for the increasing need of demanding in-space transportation, this study is a first step toward an in-orbit demonstrator of nuclear electric propulsion systems.”
Tractebel
“I am proud to lead such an important initiative in nuclear electric propulsion, which could enable exploration and in-space logistics in Earth Orbit and beyond on a scale that neither chemical nor electrical propulsion could ever achieve,” said Brieuc Spindler, Space Product Owner at Tractebel.
“By leveraging its nuclear expertise and innovative solutions, Tractebel helps advance space technologies.”
Current ESA missions depend on external sources for nuclear capabilities. Tractebel’s approach, however, ranges from using radioisotope to fission systems, it says.
Image: ESA – Illustration of a possible Nuclear Electric Propulsion tug
See also: UK Space Agency plans for stronger ESA presence at ECSAT