Current Development of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion technologies at the Center for Space Nuclear Research
Abstract
Nuclear power and propulsion has been considered for space applications since the 1950s. Between 1955 and 1972 the US built and tested over twenty nuclear reactors / rocket engines in the Rover/NERVA programs1. The Aerojet Corporation was the prime contractor for the NERVA program. Modern changes in environmental laws present challenges for the redevelopment of the nuclear rocket. Recent advances in fuel fabrication and testing options indicate that a nuclear rocket with a fuel composition that is significantly different from those of the NERVA project can be engineered; this may be needed to ensure public support and compliance with safety requirements. The Center for Space Nuclear Research (CSNR) is pursuing a number of technologies, modeling and testing processes to further the development of safe, practical and affordable nuclear thermal propulsion systems.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- DOE - NE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1076548
- Report Number(s):
- INL/CON-12-26993
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC07-05ID14517
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: AIAA Space 2012 Conference & Exposition,Pasadena, California,09/11/2012,09/13/2012
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS; NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems; nuclear thermal propulsion
Citation Formats
O'Brien, Robert C., Cook, Steven K., Jerred, Nathan D., Howe, Steven D., Samborsky, Ronald, and Brasuell, Daniel. Current Development of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion technologies at the Center for Space Nuclear Research. United States: N. p., 2012.
Web.
O'Brien, Robert C., Cook, Steven K., Jerred, Nathan D., Howe, Steven D., Samborsky, Ronald, & Brasuell, Daniel. Current Development of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion technologies at the Center for Space Nuclear Research. United States.
O'Brien, Robert C., Cook, Steven K., Jerred, Nathan D., Howe, Steven D., Samborsky, Ronald, and Brasuell, Daniel. 2012.
"Current Development of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion technologies at the Center for Space Nuclear Research". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1076548.
@article{osti_1076548,
title = {Current Development of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion technologies at the Center for Space Nuclear Research},
author = {O'Brien, Robert C. and Cook, Steven K. and Jerred, Nathan D. and Howe, Steven D. and Samborsky, Ronald and Brasuell, Daniel},
abstractNote = {Nuclear power and propulsion has been considered for space applications since the 1950s. Between 1955 and 1972 the US built and tested over twenty nuclear reactors / rocket engines in the Rover/NERVA programs1. The Aerojet Corporation was the prime contractor for the NERVA program. Modern changes in environmental laws present challenges for the redevelopment of the nuclear rocket. Recent advances in fuel fabrication and testing options indicate that a nuclear rocket with a fuel composition that is significantly different from those of the NERVA project can be engineered; this may be needed to ensure public support and compliance with safety requirements. The Center for Space Nuclear Research (CSNR) is pursuing a number of technologies, modeling and testing processes to further the development of safe, practical and affordable nuclear thermal propulsion systems.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1076548},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}