NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Safety aspects of nuclear waste disposal in spaceSafety issues involved in the disposal of nuclear wastes in space as a complement to mined geologic repositories are examined as part of an assessment of the feasibility of nuclear waste disposal in space. General safety guidelines for space disposal developed in the areas of radiation exposure and shielding, containment, accident environments, criticality, post-accident recovery, monitoring systems and isolation are presented for a nuclear waste disposal in space mission employing conventional space technology such as the Space Shuttle. The current reference concept under consideration by NASA and DOE is then examined in detail, with attention given to the waste source and mix, the waste form, waste processing and payload fabrication, shipping casks and ground transport vehicles, launch site operations and facilities, Shuttle-derived launch vehicle, orbit transfer vehicle, orbital operations and space destination, and the system safety aspects of the concept are discussed for each component. It is pointed out that future work remains in the development of an improved basis for the safety guidelines and the determination of the possible benefits and costs of the space disposal option for nuclear wastes.
Document ID
19810063022
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Rice, E. E.
(Battelle Columbus Labs. OH, United States)
Edgecombe, D. S.
(Battelle Columbus Laboratories Columbus, OH, United States)
Compton, P. R.
(NASA Energy Systems Div. Washington, DC, United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1981
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Report/Patent Number
IAF PAPER 81-252
Accession Number
81A47426
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available