On the advantages of employing elliptical staging orbits to improve the efficiency of using reusable nuclear space tugs

A trajectory design analysis has been conducted to demonstrate the effect of parameters of auxiliary orbital transfer stages and of elliptical staging orbits that they establish for a reusable space tug based on a nuclear power system and a megawatt-class electrical propulsion system on the efficiency of its application to the task of delivering payloads into the geostationary orbit. It has been demonstrated that, as compared with the option of a circular nuclear safe orbit with the altitude of Нкр= 800 km, the use of elliptical staging orbits in combination with auxiliary orbital transfer stages based on oxygen-hydrogen liquid rocket engines makes it possible to improve energy and mass performance of the reusable space tug, as well as to make greater cost savings through its application in comparison with the most efficient conventional vehicles for orbital transfer - the expendable oxygen-hydrogen upper stages.