08-12-2012, 06:25 PM
New Ideas for Space Exploration:Center for Space Nuclear Research (CSNR)
New Ideas for Space Exploration.ppt (Size: 4.3 MB / Downloads: 39)
CSNR Perspective
Goal of space exploration is understanding our “neighborhood”, i.e. the solar system
Unmanned scientific missions for science and as a precursor to human missions
Ultimate goal is the expansion of human civilization throughout the solar system
Status of Radioisotope Power
In 2007, DOE will purchase the last 10 kg of Pu-238 from Russia (ref- Robert Lange, DOE/NE,ANS Space Nuclear Conference, June, 2007)
Total of 24 kg will be in the US inventory
Four Flagship missions are currently in pre-design which may consume most, if not all, of the PU-238 available to NASA
NASA recently called for proposals for Discovery class missions that would use Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generators (ASRGs)
Without a restart of Pu-238 production in the US, no missions will go beyond Mars after ~2017
Operation Basics
Replace combustion chamber in jet engines with a radioisotope driven heat exchanger
Operates for months to years based on isotope selection
Somewhat throttled
Utilizes ~95% of heat generated
Stable, robust, long-lived
Fission Surface Power (FSP)
NASA’s FSP program seeks to design and build an “affordable reactor”
UO2 fuel,
stainless steel clad,
NaK coolant
Most of the mass is in the radiators
Shield mass depends on distance and burial option
Estimated cost is $1.8B