Development of nuclear rocket engine technology
Conference
·
OSTI ID:5572773
Research sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission, the USAF, and NASA (later on) in the area of nuclear rocket propulsion is discussed. It was found that a graphite reactor, loaded with highly concentrated Uranium 235, can be used to heat high pressure liquid hydrogen to temperatures of about 4500 R, and to expand the hydrogen through a high expansion ratio rocket nozzle assembly. The results of 20 reactor tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site between July 1959 and June 1969 are analyzed. On the basis of these results, the feasibility of solid graphite reactor/nuclear rocket engines is revealed. It is maintained that this technology will support future space propulsion requirements, using liquid hydrogen as the propellant, for thrust requirements ranging from 25,000 lbs to 250,000 lbs, with vacuum specific impulses of at least 850 sec and with full engine throttle capability. 12 refs.
- OSTI ID:
- 5572773
- Report Number(s):
- AIAA-Paper--89-2386; CONF-8907118--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Carbon-carbon turbopump concept for Space Nuclear Thermal Propulsion
High-temperature turbopump assembly for space nuclear thermal propulsion
Plasma core nuclear rocket technology
Conference
·
Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993
·
OSTI ID:5817164
High-temperature turbopump assembly for space nuclear thermal propulsion
Conference
·
Tue Jan 19 23:00:00 EST 1993
· AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5587958
Plasma core nuclear rocket technology
Conference
·
Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993
·
OSTI ID:5855415
Related Subjects
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
220800 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Propulsion Reactors
42 ENGINEERING
420200* -- Engineering-- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
DESIGN
ENGINES
FISSILE MATERIALS
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
FUEL ELEMENTS
KIWI REACTORS
MATERIALS
MOBILE REACTORS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
POWER REACTORS
PROPULSION REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ROCKET ENGINES
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
220800 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Propulsion Reactors
42 ENGINEERING
420200* -- Engineering-- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
DESIGN
ENGINES
FISSILE MATERIALS
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
FUEL ELEMENTS
KIWI REACTORS
MATERIALS
MOBILE REACTORS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
POWER REACTORS
PROPULSION REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ROCKET ENGINES
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS