Nuclear reactors for space power

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Aerosp. Am.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5631264

Buden, D

The growth in power demands for spacecraft, especially outer planet missions, is driving the development of space nuclear power systems. Nuclear reactors could also be used to process lunar materials to take advantage of order of magnitude lower fuel requirements to move construction components off the moon instead of the earth. Larger, more powerful broadcast satellites which lower the GEO station space demand could use nuclear power, as could navigational systems, orbital transfer vehicles and a manned Mars mission. The SP-100 design is currently undergoing parametric evaluation before engineering studies begin. Safety concerns are concentrated on preventing fissioning until the reactor is on-orbit and keeping the active or discarded reactor out of the atmosphere until the radioactivity has decayed to levels defined by international standards.

• OSTI ID: 5631264
• Journal Information: Aerosp. Am.; (United States), Journal Name: Aerosp. Am.; (United States) Vol. 23; ISSN AEAME
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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