High Power Electric Propulsion for a Flexible Space Exploration Architecture

An affordable architecture for future space exploration programmes is outlined in this study. Following the key guidelines of the flexible path approach, the increased capability in space operations gained with the ISS programme and the advances in efficient in-space transportation systems, the architecture proposed is indented to be the steppingstone to the next generation space missions. The time horizon envisaged is the next six decades and to cope with this timeframe, solar electric propulsion and inflatable modules are chosen as the key building blocks of the architecture proposed. Instead of sizing a single spacecraft, the architecture presents the key building blocks that represent the enabling technologies for the future exploration pathways envisaged. The exploration of the near Earth region, the Moon next, asteroid next and Mars next scenarios are considered, and analyzed. The main elements are sized and a preliminary mission analysis to assess the performance of the architecture is carried out in this study.