Final safety analysis report for the Galileo Mission: Volume 2: Book 1, Accident model document
The Accident Model Document (AMD) is the second volume of the three volume Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR) for the Galileo outer planetary space science mission. This mission employs Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) as the prime electrical power sources for the spacecraft. Galileo will be launched into Earth orbit using the Space Shuttle and will use the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) booster to place the spacecraft into an Earth escape trajectory. The RTG's employ silicon-germanium thermoelectric couples to produce electricity from the heat energy that results from the decay of the radioisotope fuel, Plutonium-238, used in the RTG heat source. The heat source configuration used in the RTG's is termed General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS), and the RTG's are designated GPHS-RTGs. The use of radioactive material in these missions necessitates evaluations of the radiological risks that may be encountered by launch complex personnel as well as by the Earth's general population resulting from postulated malfunctions or failures occurring in the mission operations. The FSAR presents the results of a rigorous safety assessment, including substantial analyses and testing, of the launch and deployment of the RTGs for the Galileo mission. This AMD is a summary of the potential accident and failure sequences which might result in fuel release, the analysis and testing methods employed, and the predicted source terms. Each source term consists of a quantity of fuel released, the location of release and the physical characteristics of the fuel released. Each source term has an associated probability of occurrence. 27 figs., 11 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co., Philadelphia, PA (USA). Valley Forge Space Center
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC01-79ET32043
- OSTI ID:
- 6241236
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ET/32043-T26-Vol.2-Bk.1; ON: DE89007270
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES
SAFETY
ACCIDENTS
REENTRY
SPACE VEHICLE COMPONENTS
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
STATISTICS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
HEAT SOURCES
MATHEMATICS
POWER SUPPLIES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
070300* - Isotopic Power Supplies