PDF-(BOOS)-Space Nuclear Radioisotope Systems (Space Nuclear Propulsion and Power)

For operating in severe environments long life and reliability radioisotope power systems have proven to be the most successful of all space power sources Two Voyager missions launched in 1977 to study Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune and their satellites rings and magnetic fields and continuing to the heliosphere region are still functioning over thirty years later Radioisotope power systems have been used on the Moon exploring the planets and exiting our solar system There success is a tribute to the outstanding engineering quality control and attention to details that went into the design and production of radioisotope power generation units Space nuclear radioisotope systems take the form of using the thermal energy from the decay of radioisotopes and converting this energy to electric power Reliability and safety are of prime importance Mission success depends on the ability of being able to safely launch the systems and on having sufficient electrical power over the life of the mission Graceful power degradation over the life of a mission is acceptable as long as it is within predictable limits Electrical power conversion systems with inherent redundancy such as thermoelectric conversion systems have been favored to date Also radioactive decay heat has been used to maintain temperatures in spacecraft at acceptable conditions for other components This book describes how radioisotope systems work the requirements and safety design considerations the various systems that have been developed and their operational history. International Workshop on Space Radiation Research and Annual NASA Space Radiation Health Investigators Dual Use:Nuclear Power and Nuclear Weapons 6 6 INESAP Information Bulletin No.26, June 20066 ered countries. We assume continuedgy, using low-enriched fuel based onclear-weapon-usable material. Thisre Becky Ward. Training and Professional Development, Naval Reactors. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. NUCLEAR POWERED FLEET. . 82 . warships . Over 45% . of major . combatants. DEDICATED LABORATORIES. Reaction Wheel. How it creates Propulsion. Reaction wheels actually do NOT create propulsion, they only create rotation.. Main components of the system. Electric motor. Flywheel. When would it be most effective?. By Mr Crowe. www.SchoolHistory.co.uk. Space Race – Arms Race!. The race begins….. Both countries began developing their weapons so as to be able to ‘outgun’ their opponents. This meant:. developing more powerful weapons. Allie Burton. November 21, 2015. Creating Propulsion. First, one must cool electromagnets to very low temperatures. In the nanoseconds after applying electricity to them, the electromagnets will begin to vibrate. Game Changing Development Program. Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Project. Technical Interchange Meeting. SSC . June 27 & 28, 2017. NASA/SSC. Ground Test Support. NTP Technical . Interchange . Meeting at SSC . September . 26, 2017. Teacher’s warning: Intended only for consumption by 11. th. and 12. th. grade physics students.. (exceptions made for incredibly-smart sophomores). © Andrew W. Smith. SHS Physics . Configuration Management Benchmarking Group (CMBG). 2014. Kent R. Freeland, P. E.. PowerKnowledge. Energy Systems. ENERGY SYSTEMS. ENERGY SYSTEMS. The South Korean Commercial Nuclear Power Program is comprised of 23 reactors of a variety of technologies, producing over 20 . Stephen Hevert. Affiliate Professor. Metropolitan State College of Denver.   . http://my.execpc.com/~culp/space/as07_lau.jpg. What Is Propulsion?. Initiating or changing the motion of a body. Translational. Top Nuclear Generating Countries. Nuclear Reactors - 7/13/17 - ©The NEED Project . Nuclear Energy Production. Although the national percentage of nuclear generated electricity is about 19%, it varies from state to state.. Dr. Andrew Ketsdever. Design Process. The design process is driven by mission requirements (all propulsion systems). Payload mass. Mission . ∆V. Operational environment. Key differences for nuclear propulsion system from the design of a liquid rocket. 84 85 The Multimegawatt Program Taking Space Reactors to the Next Level s development of a 100-kilowatt electric space reactor power system progressed under the SP-100 program, space-based weapon and The advantages of space nuclear fission power systems can be summarized as: compact size low to moderate mass long operating lifetimes the ability to operate in extremely hostile environments operation independent of the distance from the Sun or of the orientation to the Sun and high system reliability and autonomy. In fact, as power requirements approach the tens of kilowatts and megawatts, fission nuclear energy appears to be the only realistic power option. The building blocks for space nuclear fission electric power systems include the reactor as the heat source, power generation equipment to convert the thermal energy to electrical power, waste heat rejection radiators and shielding to protect the spacecraft payload. The power generation equipment can take the form of either static electrical conversion elements that have no moving parts (e.g., thermoelectric or thermionic) or dynamic conversion components (e.g., the Rankine, Brayton or Stirling cycle). The U.S. has only demonstrated in space, or even in full systems in a simulated ground environment, uranium-zirconium-hydride reactor power plants. These power plants were designed for a limited lifetime of one year and the mass of scaled up power plants would probably be unacceptable to meet future mission needs. Extensive development was performed on the liquid-metal cooled SP-100 power systems and components were well on their way to being tested in a relevant environment. A generic flight system design was completed for a seven year operating lifetime power plant, but not built or tested. The former USSR made extensive use of space reactors as a power source for radar ocean reconnaissance satellites. They launched some 31 missions using reactors with thermoelectric power conversion systems and two with thermionic converters. Current activities are centered on Fission Surface Power for lunar applications. Activities are concentrating on demonstrating component readiness. This book will discuss the components that make up a nuclear fission power system, the principal requirements and safety issues, various development programs, status of developments, and development issues.