Safety analysis for the Galileo Light-Weight Radioisotope Heater Unit
The Light-Weight Radioisotope Heater Unit (LWRHU) will be used on the NASA Galileo Mission to provide thermal energy to the various systems on the orbiter and probe that are adversely affected by the low temperature a spacecraft encounters during a long interplanetary mission. Using these plutonia-fueled sources in 1-W increments permits employment of a single design and provides the spacecraft user the option of how many to use and where to position them to satisfy the proper thermal environment for components requiring such consideration. The use of the radioisotope {sup 238}Pu in these devices necessitates the assessment of postulated radiological risks which might be experienced in case of accidents or malfunctions of the space shuttle or the spacecraft during phases of the mission in the vicinity of the earth. Included are data for the design, mission descriptions, postulated accidents with their consequences, test data, and the derived source terms and personnel exposures for the various events. 4 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.
- Research Organization:
- EG and G Mound Applied Technologies, Miamisburg, OH (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/DP
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-88DP43495
- OSTI ID:
- 7171152
- Report Number(s):
- MLM-3624-OP; CONF-900109-21; ON: DE90007147
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 7. symposium on space nuclear power systems, Albuquerque, NM (USA), 7-11 Jan 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Light-Weight Radioisotope Heater Unit final safety analysis report (LWRHU-FSAR): Volume 1: A. Introduction and executive summary: B. Reference Design Document (RDD)
Light-Weight Radioisotope Heater Unit Safety Analysis Report (LWRHU-SAR). Volume I. A. Introduction and executive summary. B. Reference Design Document (RDD)
Related Subjects
RADIATION HAZARDS
RISK ASSESSMENT
RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
ACCIDENTS
DESIGN
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
FORECASTING
HEALTH HAZARDS
IMPACT SHOCK
MISSION ANALYSIS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PLANNING
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
PROBABILISTIC ESTIMATION
RADIOACTIVITY TRANSPORT
REENTRY
SPACE VEHICLE COMPONENTS
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
HAZARDS
HEAT SOURCES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
POWER SUPPLIES
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
TESTING
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
070300* - Isotopic Power Supplies