The Human Mars Design Reference Architecture (DRA 5.0) study shows insitu-resource utilization (ISRU) and liquid oxygen / liquid methane (LOx / LCH4) as enabling technologies for human-scale Mars missions. Due to the very high cost of getting mass to Mars, it is critical that spacecraft components be mass and volume efficient. A spacecraft design which emphasizes a highly integrated architecture, with a reduced number of fluids across spacecraft subsystems, stored in common tankage, and sharing common components and processes has the potential to result in a smaller, lower mass, operationally flexible spacecraft, with reduced design, development, testing and operational costs. This project takes the initial steps towards demonstrating this integrated architecture with focus on propulsion and power operated from LOx / LCH4 commodities. Green propellants such as liquid oxygen / liquid methane propulsion technologies offer a safer, lower-cost, higher performance option for in-space propulsion when compared to traditional propellants such as nitrogen tetroxide / monomethylhydrazine (NTO / MMH). These savings could benefit various commercial launch (upper-stage) and satellite applications. Furthermore, Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technologies enable high-density, portable power options which do not rely on high purity reactants. SOFCs have applications in the commercial transportation industry, where they are being used as the both primary and secondary power sources for automobiles / commercial trucks. Green propellants, such as liquid oxygen / liquid methane, offer a safer, lower-cost, higher performance option for in-space propulsion when compared to traditional propellants such as nitrogen tetroxide / monomethylhydrazine (NTO / MMH). These savings could benefit various Department of Defense (DoD) spacecraft applications. Furthermore, Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technologies enable high-density, portable power options which do not rely on high purity reactants. SOFCs have applications in DoD systems as well as in the commercial transportation industry (Department of Transportation).
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