Issues in the flight qualification of a space power reactor

Conference · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:10189746

Polansky, G F ^[1]; Schmidt, G L ^[2]; Voss, S S ^[3]; Reynolds, E L ^[4]

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1. Phillips Lab., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. New Mexico Engineering Research Inst., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
3. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
4. Applied Physics Lab., Laurel, MD (United States)

This paper presents an overview of the Nuclear Electric Propulsion Space Test Program (NEPSTP). The program goals, the proposed mission, the spacecraft, and the Topaz II space nuclear power system are described. The subject of flight qualification is examined and the inherent difficulties of qualifying a space reactor are described. The differences between US and Russian flight qualification procedures are explored. A plan is then described that was developed to determine an appropriate flight qualification program for the Topaz II reactor to support a possible NEPSTP launch. Refocusing of the activities of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), combined with budgetary pressures, forced the cancellation of the NEPSTP at the end of the 1993 fiscal year.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Department of Defense, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 10189746
• Report Number(s): SAND--94-2376C; CONF-9410181--2; ON: DE95001606; BR: GB0103012
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210600
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450500
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
DESIGN
FLIGHT TESTING
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PERFORMANCE TESTING
POWER REACTORS, MOBILE, PROPULSION, PACKAGE, AND TRANSPORTABLE
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SPACE VEHICLES
STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE
THERMIONIC FUEL ELEMENTS
USA