system attributes that would be of most concern to a user, including required isotope inventory in kilograms of enriched PuO2 and number of GPHS blocks, surface area aboard the vehicle which must remain unobstructed for radiator installation, and effective radiator temperature. On the basis of system mass the FPSE power system shows a 21% advantage over its nearest competitor, the Mod-RTG power system. On the basis of isotope inventory, both the FPSE and CBC systems require only about a third the fuel of the Mod-RTG system. Comparison of radiator area shows the Mod- RTG with a 39% advantage over the FPSE system. Any one of the comparison bases discussed may be an important driver in concept selection. In general, system mass is the most useful comparison at this early stage of concept identification. REFERENCES [1] Blanchard, D.P., Gooding, J.L. & Clanton, U.S. (1984) Scientific Objectives for a 1996 Mars Sample Return Mission, AAS 84-158. [2] De Vries, J.P. & Norton, H.N. (1984) A Mars Sample Return Mission Using a Rover for Sample Acquisition, AAS 84-159.
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