Nuclear Safety Analysis of Snap III for Space Missions

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1961 · ARS Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/8.5905· OSTI ID:4821276

Hagis, W.

Snap III is an auxiliary power source using thermoelectric elements to convert decay heat from a radioisotope directly into electrical energy. The fate of the radioisotope fuel in the event of post orbital re-entry after a successful satellite gated. The objective was to determine the locations of impact or the locations and altitudes of the radioisotopic fuel capsule during burnup that could result from all possible combinations of final stage booster thrust, misalignments, or failures. Burnup altitude for a post orbital re-entry was also determined for a 275-mile circular orbit. The safety of the mission was appraised with respect to the fate of the radiopolonium fuel for successful missions and for the spectrum of potential aborted missions. Seven general cases resulted from the 65 abort cases examined. Concurrent with the theoretical investigation, a safety experimental program was conducted. These tests involved both missile failure and aerodynamic forces. They included plasam jet, impact, shock, fire, and fallout tests. The results indicate that the Snap III would be acceptable for operational missions. The deposits resulting from dispersing the radioactive fuel during re-entries, from either successful or aborted missions, would be completely masked by the Po²¹⁰ that is naturally present in soils all over the world.

• Research Organization: Martin Co., Baltimore
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-16-006250
• OSTI ID: 4821276
• Journal Information: ARS Journal, Vol. 31, Issue 12; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-62; ISSN 1936-9972
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
AERODYNAMICS
AEROSOLS
COMBUSTION
CONVERSION
DECAY
DISPERSIONS
FAILURES
FALLOUT
IMPACT SHOCK
JETS
LEVELS
ORBITS
PLASMA
POLONIUM 210
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPES
RE-ENTRY
ROCKETS
SAFETY
SATELLITES
SOILS
SPACE FLIGHT
TESTING
THERMAL RADIATION
THERMOELECTRIC CELLS
VESSELS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems