System aspects of a Space Nuclear Reactor Power System
Selected systems aspects of a 300 kW nuclear reactor power system for spacecraft have been studied. The approach included examination of two candidate missions and their associated spacecraft, and a number of special topics dealing with the power system design and operation. The missions considered were a reusable orbital transfer vehicle and a space-based radar. The special topics included: power system configuration and scaling, launch vehicle integration, operating altitude, orbital storage, start-up, thawing, control, load following, procedures in case of malfunction, restart, thermal and nuclear radiation to other portions of the spacecraft, thermal stresses between subsystems, boom and cable designs, vibration modes, altitude control, reliability, and survivability. Among the findings are that the stowed length of the power system is important to mission design and that orbital storage for months to years may be needed for missions involving orbital assembly. The power system design evolved during the study and has continued to evolve; the current design differs somewhat from that examined in this paper.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6877901
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-88-3252; CONF-880702-24; ON: DE89000342
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 23. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Denver, CO, USA, 31 Jul 1988; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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SPACE POWER REACTORS
MISSION ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
SPACE VEHICLES
RADAR
REACTOR OPERATION
SPACE SHUTTLES
SPACE VEHICLE COMPONENTS
AIRCRAFT
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MOBILE REACTORS
OPERATION
POWER REACTORS
RANGE FINDERS
REACTORS
VEHICLES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600* - Power Reactors
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