Flight in the Jovian Stratosphere. Engine Concept and Flight Altitude Determination

TL;DR

This paper proposes a mathematical model to evaluate the feasibility of atmospheric flight on Jupiter using nuclear-powered Flyers, focusing on thrust, lift, and mass limits at various altitudes and temperatures.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mathematical framework for assessing nuclear-powered atmospheric flight capabilities on Jupiter, considering altitude and heat chamber temperature effects.

Findings

Model estimates thrust and lift at different altitudes.

Determines maximum allowable mass for steady flight.

Provides insights for designing Jovian atmospheric vehicles.

Abstract

An effective method for detailed observation of the Solar System planets is the use of vehicles that can perform flight in their atmospheres, with the most promising of them being Flyers (aircraft for other planets atmospheres). Besides the advantage of probing the atmosphere directly, they have the ability to fly on selected direction and altitude, making them suitable for collecting information over large areas. Equipping the Flyer with nuclear propulsion will allow it to conduct flight for months without the need of combustible fuel or oxidizer to be carried on board. Among the planets of the Solar System and their satellites, Jupiter is a viable target for exploration, since it features thick atmosphere suitable for aerodynamic flight, there is no solid surface that can be contaminated after end of the mission, and the atmospheric data for designing a Flyer is readily available. This paper proposes a mathematical model for evaluating the thrust, the lift and the maximum allowable mass for horizontal steady flight as functions of the altitude and different heat chamber temperatures.