A SPACESHIP WITH NUCLEAR PROPULSION
ABS>A proposed space vehicle with nuclear propulsion for a round-trip Martian mission is described. It would be powered by a 270-Mw graphite- moderated, U-fueled nuclear reactor with a core 1 m high by 1 m in diameter, and use gas as propellant. The gas would be heated to the maximum temperature in the reactor and additionally accelerated by an electromagnetic field. To this end, small quantities of K would be injected into the gas stream to increase its electric conductivity. The required electrical energy would be produced by liquid-Na-cooled thermionic converters. The vehicle would weigh 115000 kg, including 43000 kg of H propellant with tankage, and 7000 kg of sustenance material for one year. Chemical rockets would launch the vehicle with a crew of three men into an earth orbit where nuclear propulsion would take over. Upon reactor start-up, three heat exchangers (minimum dimensions 30 x 18 m) would be fanned out. A shielded well with a diameter of 2.5 m would protect the crew from radiation during reactor operation, passage through the earth radiation belts, and at periods of solar flares. (OTS)
- Research Organization:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-010210
- OSTI ID:
- 4715458
- Journal Information:
- Kridla Vlasti, Vol. Vol: No. 13; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
A radiological assessment of nuclear power and propulsion operations near Space Station Freedom. Contract report, January 1988-January 1990
SP-100 nuclear electric propulsion for Mars cargo missions
Related Subjects
ACCELERATORS
CHEMICALS
COMBUSTION
CONFIGURATION
COOLANT LOOPS
COOLING
COSMIC RADIATION
DENSITY
EARTH
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICITY
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ENERGY LEVELS
FUELS
GAS COOLANT
GAS FLOW
GRAPHITE MODERATOR
HARTREE-FOCK METHOD
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
HEATING
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROGEN
INJECTION
JETS
LIQUID METAL COOLANT
LIQUID METALS
MAN
MANY BODY PROBLEM
MARS PLANET
MATHEMATICS
MATRICES
NUCLEAR MATTER
NUCLEAR MODELS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
OPERATION
ORBITS
PERFORMANCE
PERSONNEL
PERTURBATION THEORY
PLANETS
PLANNING
PLASMA
POTASSIUM
POWER
POWER PLANTS
PRODUCTION
PROPULSION
QUANT
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems