Analysis of Alternative Core Designs for Fission Surface Power Capability Demonstration Mission (V.1.0)

Technical Report · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1807807· OSTI ID:1807807

Dasari, Venkateswara Rao ^[1]; Blood, Mikaela E. ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) intends to demonstrate a 10 kWe fission surface power (FSP) system on the surface of the Moon as part of a Capability Demonstration Mission. STMD tasked a joint NASA-DOE team to ‘outline an FSP reactor concept that can be readied for 2027 launch,’ and serves ‘as a pathfinder for future power modules for Mars.’ Tables 1 and 2 respectively list FSP performance requirements and design guidance provided for the study. DOE is the leading agency for the reactor module, reactor controls and radiation shielding, and shares joint responsibility for the overall FSP system. This report summarizes an analysis of alternative reactor classes and shielding configurations carried out by the DOE national laboratories. Representative reactor and shielding configurations were based on heritage and are in alignment with the industry initiatives. This report presents no recommendations on the appropriate choice of fuel or class of reactor that NASA should pursue. Instead the focus here is to provide a summary and findings of analyses carried out by DOE national laboratory personnel.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: 89233218CNA000001
• OSTI ID: 1807807
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--21-26460
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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