Engineering and Fabrication Considerations for Cost-Effective Space Reactor Shield Development

Journal Article · Wed Feb 04 00:00:00 EST 2004 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1649631· OSTI ID:20632876

Berg, Thomas A ^[1]; Disney, Richard K ^[2]

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1. Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-8091 (United States)
2. Y-12 National Security Complex, Greensburg, PA 15601-5662 (United States)

Investment in developing nuclear power for space missions cannot be made on the basis of a single mission. Current efforts in the design and fabrication of the reactor module, including the reactor shield, must be cost-effective and take into account scalability and fabricability for planned and future missions. Engineering considerations for the shield need to accommodate passive thermal management, varying radiation levels and effects, and structural/mechanical issues. Considering these challenges, design principles and cost drivers specific to the engineering and fabrication of the reactor shield are presented that contribute to lower recurring mission costs.

• OSTI ID: 20632876
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 699, Issue 1; Conference: STAIF 2004: 21. symposium on space nuclear power and propulsion: Human space exploration, space colonization, new frontiers and future concepts, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 8-11 Feb 2004; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1649631; (c) 2004 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
COST
COST ESTIMATION
DESIGN
FABRICATION
FISSION
NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
NUCLEAR POWER
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
SHIELDING
SPACE
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SPACE VEHICLES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems