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Bryan Palaszewski

Glenn Research Center United States of America

Bryan Palaszewski has worked at the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field since 1989 and is currently directing research on high-performance propellants and atmospheric entry. He has conducted investigations nanometer-scale propellant additives for metalized gelled fuels for space missions. Recently, he led work related to human Mars entry, descent, and landing (EDL) where supersonic retro-propulsion (rocket deceleration) is planned for the Mars landing. He is also investigating the mining of outer planet atmospheres for future ambitious space vehicles. For six years, he led many studies of advanced space systems for orbital and interplanetary travel at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. He was the lead propulsion subsystem engineer on the Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX), as well as being involved in other flight projects such as the Galileo Mission to Jupiter and the Cassini Mission to Saturn. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the City College of New York.

1books edited

5chapters authored

Latest work with IntechOpen by Bryan Palaszewski

Over the last 80 years, dreamers, engineers, mission planners, and scientists have sought, defined, and created many methods of exploring the solar system. Robotic missions to nearly every type of solar system object have been conducted. The data from these missions has opened new vistas on the riches of the planets and the asteroids. Water and other materials that can help humans survive in space have been found in abundance. Human lunar missions have returned with hundreds of kilograms of rocky and dusty samples. These samples (regolith) has given us hope that humanity will one day colonize the Moon, Mars, and the moons of other planets. Many space agencies around the world have shared their information and created collaborations for the betterment of all. Interplanetary dreams are part of humanity's future, those dreams will create a future where humanity can begin to flourish throughout the planets. This book is a celebration of those dreams.

Planetology

Planetology

Edited by Bryan Palaszewski

Chapters authored

Solar System Exploration Augmented by In Situ Resource Utilization: Lunar Base Issues

By Bryan Palaszewski

Creating a presence and an industrial capability on the Moon is essential for the development of humankind. There are many historical study results that have identified and quantified the lunar resources and analyzed the methods of obtaining and employing those resources. The idea of finding, obtaining, and using these materials is called in situ resource utilization (ISRU). The ISRU research and development efforts have led to new ideas in rocket propulsion. Applications in chemical propulsion, nuclear electric propulsion, and many other propulsion systems will be critical in making the initial lunar base and future lunar industries more sustainable and will lead to brilliant futures for humanity.

Part of the book: Lunar Science

Solar System Exploration Augmented by In Situ Resource Utilization: System Analyses, Vehicles, and Moon Bases for Saturn Exploration

By Bryan Palaszewski

Human and robotic missions to Saturn are presented and analyzed with a range of propulsion options. Historical studies of space exploration, planetary spacecraft and astronomy, in situ resource utilization (ISRU), and industrialization all point to the vastness of natural resources in the solar system. Advanced propulsion is benefitted from these resources in many ways. While advanced propulsion systems were proposed in these historical studies, further investigation of nuclear options using high-power nuclear electric and nuclear pulse propulsion as well as advanced chemical propulsion can significantly enhance these scenarios. Updated analyses based on these historical visions are presented. At Saturn, nuclear pulse propulsion with alternate propellant feed systems and Saturn moon exploration with chemical propulsion and nuclear electric propulsion options are discussed. Issues with using in situ resource utilization on Saturn’s moons are discussed. At Saturn, the best locations for exploration and the use of the moons as central locations for Saturn moon exploration are assessed. Environmental issues on Titan’s surface may present extreme challenges for some ISRU processes. In-space bases for moon-orbiting propellant processing and ground-based processing will be assessed.

Part of the book: Planetology

Introductory Chapter: Planetology

By Bryan Palaszewski

Part of the book: Planetology

Assessing Propulsion and Transportation Issues with Mars’ Moons

By Bryan Palaszewski

This chapter is focused on transportation issues with Mars’ moons: Phobos and Deimos. The moons are small nonspherical bodies that may offer unique specimens for science, a gateway to understanding the asteroid belt, and resource platforms for space industries. The mission delta-V and both chemical propulsion and nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) are analyzed. The use of nuclear electric propulsion allows very large reductions on the resupply propellant mass over chemical propulsion options. Large delta-V plane changes are also more efficient using electric propulsion. The benefits of electric propulsion are unique, and the power system can support high-power radar science experiments.

Part of the book: Mars Exploration

Martian Moons and Space Transportation Using Chemical and Electric Propulsion Options

By Bryan Palaszewski

Using chemical and nuclear electric propulsion for the exploration of the Martian moons will be investigated. Both oxygen/hydrogen chemical propulsion and nuclear electric propulsion with 500 kilowatt electric (kWe) to 10 megawatt electric (MWe) reactors will be assessed. The initial masses, propellant masses, and trip times for a variety of space vehicle payload masses will be compared. For high energy orbital transfer, the nuclear electric propulsion vehicles required a small fraction of the propellant mass over oxygen/hydrogen orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs). The moons, Phobos and Deimos, may hold resources for refueling future space vehicles. In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) can be a powerful method of reducing Earth dependence on space vehicle propellants, liquid water, and breathing gases. Historical studies have identified the potential of water in carbonaceous chondrites on the moons. The moon-derived propellants OTVs that move payloads between the moons and to other important operational Mars orbits. Also, the propellants have been suggested to support reusable Mars landers. To extract the water, the mined mass, its volume and the mining time were estimated. The water mass fraction may be as low as 2x10−4. Very large masses were needed to be extracted for up to 100 MT of water.

Part of the book: Solar System Planets and Exoplanets

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