Deployment history and design considerations for space reactor power systems

Performance and radiological analyses of a space reactor power system deployed into a 1000-3000 km earth orbit

Publisher Summary This chapter unveils the technology and design options for space reactor power systems and presented design and system integration choices to enhance the safety and reliability of these systems. It is also defined here that the use of these systems should not result in undue radiation exposure to people and astronauts, or damage to property, equipment or space assets. The information provided is offered to stimulate future discussion of the challenging subject of developing safety standards and guidelines for the launch and future peaceful uses of space reactor power and propulsion systems. These include the deployed-in earth orbits and their use for deep space exploration and surface power on the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. Besides these, a number of space reactor designs and power system combinations, for enhancing safety and operation reliability, are presented and discussed. Various factors such as passive operation, decay heat removal, and the absence of single-point failures in the reactor design and the integration of space reactor power systems are desirable characteristics for enhancing safety and operation reliability. Additionally, the use and implementation of autonomous operation schemes and adaptive control capabilities would greatly improve safety and ensure mission success, particularly in deep space exploration.

Safety guidelines for space nuclear reactor power and propulsion systems

Once humans landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969 the goal of space exploration envisioned by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 was already being realized. Achievement of this goal depended on the development of technologies to turn his vision into reality. One technology that was critical to success was the harnessing of nuclear power to run these new systems. Nuclear power systems provide power for satellite systems and deep-space exploratory missions. In the future, they will provide propulsion for spacecraft and drive planet-based power systems. The maturing of these technologies ran parallel to an evolving rationale regarding the need to explore our own Solar System and beyond. Since the “space race”, forward-looking analysis of our situation on Earth reveals that space exploration will one day provide natural resources that will enable further exploration and provide new sources for dwindling materials to offset increasing prices on Earth. Mining for increasingly valuable commodities such as thorium and samarium is envisaged on the Moon and on selected asteroids as a demonstration of technology at scales never before imagined. In addition, the discovery of helium-3 on the Moon may provide an abundant power source on the Moon and on Earth through nuclear fusion technologies. However, until the physics of fusion is solved, that resource will remain on the shelf and may be even stockpiled on the Moon until needed. It is clear that nuclear power will provide the means necessary to realize these goals while advances in other areas provide enhanced environmental safeguards in using nuclear power in innovative ways, such as the space elevator, to deliver space-derived materials to Earth’s surface and such as the space gravity tractor to nudge errant asteroids and other bodies out of orbits that would collide with the Earth. Nuclear systems will enable humankind to expand beyond the boundaries of Earth, provide new frontiers for exploration, protect the Earth, and renew critical natural resources. Copyright © AAPG. Serial rights given by author. For all other rights contact author directly.

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The Role of Nuclear Power in Space Exploration and the Associated Environmental Issues: An Overview*

While nuclear energy has been very influential in meeting the energy needs of Earth, it also has implications and uses in outer space exploration Nuclear energy can be used as a source of power for various space mission in space or on planetary/space platforms and more importantly it can be used for propulsion in order to achieve high specific impulses to allow the spacecraft to reach its destinations faster This chapter discusses the use of nuclear energy for propulsion in spacecraft and also as a source of power for space missions While nuclear energy has been used since 1960s in space missions in various forms, many new techniques also have been developed in the last 10 years, which may pave the way for future space missions that will allow mankind to reach further destinations and to establish long-term outposts in space As long as Le Reve Des Toiles’ or the Dream of Stars continues to be the main dynamo of mankind, nuclear energy in space applications will be at the forefront of space exploration for many decades to come This chapter focuses on the existing nuclear applications in space exploration since the early 1960s as well as any future work that is going on related to this field

Nuclear-powered space reactor

The potential for civilian mission applications of space nuclear reactor power systems is addressed in this paper. A wide range of possible civilian missions, including human and unmanned solar system exploration, are identified, along with earth-orbit applications. These missions would require versatile, high-capacity space power systems whose attributes can best be provided by nuclear technology. The long mission durations, the high power levels required to fulfill many of the challenging mission objectives, and in some instances the lack of solar energy render the use of nuclear power sources as either mission-enabling or very advantageous.

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Robert Rosen

Papers

Civilian uses of nuclear reactors in space