If I'm understanding you correctly, you're saying additional deceleration is possible using the additional xenon generated by the reactor. My immediate reaction is that you're overestimating the amount generated. I think you need to quantify the xenon produced by the reactor versus the xenon consumed by the additional acceleration.
This also assumes the Hermes has the power to sustain the additional ion thruster use. That needs to be justified. if your reactor has too much power, then that's weight that can be designed out to give a cheaper mission.
And the one that sneaks up on you over the longer term: What does slowing down do to the long term mission. Do they catch the MAV, but miss Earth....
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If I'm understanding you correctly, you're saying additional deceleration is possible using the additional xenon generated by the reactor. My immediate reaction is that you're overestimating the amount generated. I think you need to quantify the xenon produced by the reactor versus the xenon consumed by the additional acceleration.
This also assumes the Hermes has the power to sustain the additional ion thruster use. That needs to be justified. if your reactor has too much power, then that's weight that can be designed out to give a cheaper mission.
And the one that sneaks up on you over the longer term:
What does slowing down do to the long term mission. Do they catch the MAV, but miss Earth....