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Title: Cryogenic explosion environment modeling and testing of space shuttle and light-weight radioisotope heater unit interactions

Abstract

In order to assess the risk to the world's populace in the event of a Space Shuttle accident when radioisotope-containing heat sources are on board, testing of that system must be performed to determine release point, environments required, and the size distribution of the released fuel. To evaluate the performance of the Light-Weight Radioisotope Heater Unit (LWRHU) (101 of these 1-W items are placed on the Galileo spacecraft which will be launched from the Space Shuttle), some high-velocity impact and flyer plate testing was carried out. The results showed that a bare urania-fueled LWRHU clad (approximately 1-mm thick platinum-30 wt % rhodium alloy) will withstand 1100 m/s flyer plate (3.5-mm thick aluminum) impacts and 330 m/s impacts upon the Space Shuttle floor (approximately 12-mm thick aluminum) without rupture or fuel release. Velocities in the order of 600 m/s on a steel surface will cause clad failure with fuel release. The fuel breakup patterns were characterized as to quantity in a specific size range. These data were employed in the formal Safety Analysis Report for the LWRHU to support the planned 1986 Galileo launch. 19 figs.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Mound Plant (MOUND), Miamisburg, OH (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
6265268
Report Number(s):
MLM-3303
ON: DE86005901
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-76DP00053
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES; 42 ENGINEERING; RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES; PERFORMANCE TESTING; RISK ASSESSMENT; SPACE SHUTTLES; CRYOGENICS; EXPLOSIONS; HEALTH HAZARDS; SPACE TRANSPORT; AIRCRAFT; HAZARDS; HEAT SOURCES; SPACE VEHICLES; TESTING; TRANSPORT; VEHICLES; NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems; 070300* - Isotopic Power Supplies; 420600 - Engineering- Safety Engineering- (-1987)

Citation Formats

Johnson, E W. Cryogenic explosion environment modeling and testing of space shuttle and light-weight radioisotope heater unit interactions. United States: N. p., 1985. Web. doi:10.2172/6265268.
Johnson, E W. Cryogenic explosion environment modeling and testing of space shuttle and light-weight radioisotope heater unit interactions. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6265268
Johnson, E W. 1985. "Cryogenic explosion environment modeling and testing of space shuttle and light-weight radioisotope heater unit interactions". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6265268. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6265268.
@article{osti_6265268,
title = {Cryogenic explosion environment modeling and testing of space shuttle and light-weight radioisotope heater unit interactions},
author = {Johnson, E W},
abstractNote = {In order to assess the risk to the world's populace in the event of a Space Shuttle accident when radioisotope-containing heat sources are on board, testing of that system must be performed to determine release point, environments required, and the size distribution of the released fuel. To evaluate the performance of the Light-Weight Radioisotope Heater Unit (LWRHU) (101 of these 1-W items are placed on the Galileo spacecraft which will be launched from the Space Shuttle), some high-velocity impact and flyer plate testing was carried out. The results showed that a bare urania-fueled LWRHU clad (approximately 1-mm thick platinum-30 wt % rhodium alloy) will withstand 1100 m/s flyer plate (3.5-mm thick aluminum) impacts and 330 m/s impacts upon the Space Shuttle floor (approximately 12-mm thick aluminum) without rupture or fuel release. Velocities in the order of 600 m/s on a steel surface will cause clad failure with fuel release. The fuel breakup patterns were characterized as to quantity in a specific size range. These data were employed in the formal Safety Analysis Report for the LWRHU to support the planned 1986 Galileo launch. 19 figs.},
doi = {10.2172/6265268},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6265268}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985},
month = {Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985}
}