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Reactor power system deployment and startupThis paper addresses issues that should receive further examination in the near-term as concept selection for development of a U.S. space reactor power system is approached. The issues include: the economics, practicality and system reliability associated with transfer of nuclear spacecraft from low earth shuttle orbits to operational orbits, via chemical propulsion versus nuclear electric propulsion; possible astronaut supervised reactor and nuclear electric propulsion startup in low altitude Shuttle orbit; potential deployment methods for nuclear powered spacecraft from Shuttle; the general public safety of low altitude startup and nuclear safe and disposal orbits; the question of preferred reactor power level; and the question of frozen versus molten alkali metal coolant during launch and deployment. These issues must be considered now because they impact the SP-100 concept selection, power level selection, weight and size limits, use of deployable radiators, reliability requirements, and economics, as well as the degree of need for and the urgency of developing space reactor power systems.
Document ID
19860035996
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Wetch, J. R.
(Space Power, Inc. Sunnyvale, CA, United States)
Nelin, C. J.
(Space Power, Inc. Sunnyvale, CA, United States)
Britt, E. J.
(Rasor Associates, Inc. Sunnyvale, CA, United States)
Klein, G.
(California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1985
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Accession Number
86A20734
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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