Improving the Nuclear Launch Approval Process; Progress and Plans

Launches involving radioisotope power systems (RPS) or radioisotope heater units (RHU’s) must comply with a number of different statutory, regulatory, and administrative requirements. While some of these are well defined, others have been carried out on the basis of past practice rather than a set of formal standards. In addition, some of the requirements reference outdated standards and are in need of updates. The overall process is also time consuming and expensive. This paper describes efforts by NASA, the Department of Energy (DOE) and others to make improvements to the process while maintaining safety and environmental protection.