Safety Questions Relevant to Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

Conference · Mon Jan 13 00:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.41909· OSTI ID:10136643

Buden, David ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Nuclear propulsion is necessary for successful Mars exploration to enhance crew safety and reduce mission costs. Safety concerns are considered by some to be an implement to the use of nuclear thermal rockets for these missions. Therefore, an assessment was made of the various types of possible accident conditions that might occur and whether design or operational solutions exist. With the previous work on the NERVA nuclear rocket, most of the issues have been addressed in some detail. Thus, a large data base exists to use in an agreement. The assessment includes evaluating both ground, launch, space operations and disposal conditions. The conclusion is that design and operational solutions do exist for the safe use of nuclear thermal rockets and that both the environment and crews be protected against harmful radiation. Further, it is concluded that the use of nuclear thermal propulsion will reduce the radiation and mission risks to the Mars crews.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP); USDOE Idaho Field Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 10136643
• Report Number(s): EGG-M-91517; CONF-920104-33; ON: DE92011152
• Resource Relation: Journal Volume: 246; Conference: 9. Symposium on Space Nuclear Power Systems , Albuquerque, NM (United States), 13-16 Jan 1992; Other Information: PBD: 15 Oct 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION
MARS SPACE PROBES
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
ASTRONAUTS
RADIATION DOSES
RISK ASSESSMENT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
SPACE
EXPLORATION
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
DESIGN BASIS ACCIDENTS
LAUNCHING
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
OPERATION
DOSE LIMITS
SAFETY STANDARDS
CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
CRITICALITY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
FISSION PRODUCT RELEASE
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
MISSION ANALYSIS
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP)
NERVA Nuclear Rocket
Ground Nuclear Waste
Flight Safety Review
Launch Approval Process
Space Nuclear Power Systems
210600
052000
POWER REACTORS, MOBILE, PROPULSION, PACKAGE, AND TRANSPORTABLE
WASTE MANAGEMENT