Design and Analysis of RTGs for CRAF and Cassini Missions
- Fairchild Space and Defense Corporation, Germantown, MD (United States)
This report consists of two parts. Part 1 describes the development of novel analytical methods needed to predict the BOM performance and the subsequent performance degradation of the mutually obstructed RTGs for the CRAF and Cassini missions. Part II applies those methods to the two missions, presents the resultant predictions, and discusses their programmatic implications. The results indicate that JPL's original power demand goals could have been met with two standard GPHS RTGs for each mission. But subsequently JPL significantly increased both the power level and the mission duration for both missions, so that they can no longer by met by two standard RTGs. The resultant power gap must be closed either by reducing JPL's power demand (e.g., by decreasing contingency reserves) and/or by increasing the power system's output. One way under active consideration which more than meets the system power goal would be the addition of a third RTG for each mission. However, the author concluded that it may be possible to meet or closely approach the CRAF power demand goals with just two RTGs by relatively modest modification of their design and/or operating conditions. To explore that possibility, the effect of various modifications - either singly or in combination - was analyzed by Fairchild. The results indicate that modest modifications can meet or come very close to meeting the CRAF power goals with just two RTGs. Elimination of the third RTG would yield substantial cost and schedule savings. There are three copies in the file.
- Research Organization:
- Fairchild Space and Defense Corporation, Germantown, MD (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
- OSTI ID:
- 1047829
- Report Number(s):
- FSC--ESD-217-90-469B; Orbital ID: 9278; Call Number: 23-01
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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