Unique mission options available with a megawatt-class nuclear electric propulsion system
The advantages of using electric propulsion systems are well-known in the aerospace community with the most common being its high specific impulse, lower propellant requirements, and lower system mass. But these advantages may not be as important as the overall unique mission options electric propulsion makes possible, especially if the system is powered by a megawatt-class nuclear electric power source. Although the lack of suitable electric power systems has been a major drawback to electric propulsion, recent efforts have shown megawatt-class nuclear electric power systems are feasible and could be available by the turn of the century. Coupling this with the resurgence in interest in free-space electromagnetic transmission of energy and technology developments in this area provide a whole new aspect to the view of electric propulsion. The propulsion system now has a second mission function that may be of more value than the well understood benefits of electric propulsion; that is providing large quantities of prime power in support of a broad spectrum of mission tasks. 30 refs., 9 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6701077
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-SA-15519; CONF-880764-5; ON: DE89001738
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 24. AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE joint propulsion conference, Boston, MA, USA, 11 Jul 1988; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
42 ENGINEERING
SPACE TRANSPORT
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
SPACE VEHICLES
MISSION ANALYSIS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
ENERGY CONVERSION
LASER POWER TRANSMISSION
MICROWAVE POWER TRANSMISSION
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
SHIELDING
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
THRUSTERS
URANIUM NITRIDES
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ALLOYS
CONVERSION
MOBILE REACTORS
NITRIDES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PNICTIDES
POWER REACTORS
POWER TRANSMISSION
PROPULSION REACTORS
REACTORS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
TRANSPORT
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
VEHICLES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
220800* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Propulsion Reactors
420200 - Engineering- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques