Reactor Safety for the Space Exploration Initiative

Conference · Thu Jan 10 04:00:00 EST 1991 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.40167· OSTI ID:5797808

Dix, T. E. ^[1]

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1. Rockwell International Corp., Canoga Park, CA (United States). Rocketdyne Division

A task force was created by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to conduct a 90-day study to support efforts to determine requirements to meet the goals of the Space Exploration Initiative. The task force identified the need for a nuclear reactor to provide the electrical power required as the outpost power demands on the Moon and Mars evolve into hundreds of kilowatts. A preliminary hazards analysis has been performed to examine safety aspects of nuclear reactor power systems for representative missions to the Moon and Mars. Mission profiles were defined for reference lunar and Martian flights. Potential alternatives to each mission phase were also defined. Accident scenarios were qualitatively defined for the mission phases. The safety issues decay heat removal, reactor control, disposal, criticality, end-of-mission shutdown, radiation exposure, the Martian environment, high speed impact on the surfaces of the Moon or Mars, and return flyby trajectories were identified.

• Research Organization: Rockwell International Corp., Canoga Park, CA (United States). Rocketdyne Division
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• OSTI ID: 5797808
• Report Number(s): CONF-910116--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Journal Volume: 217
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220800 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Propulsion Reactors
220900 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
CRITICALITY
ENGINEERING
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MARS SPACE PROBES
MOBILE REACTORS
MOON
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
POWER REACTORS
Preliminary Hazards Analysis
RADIATION HAZARDS
REACTOR CONTROL SYSTEMS
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTORS
SAFETY
SAFETY ENGINEERING
SATELLITES
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SPACE VEHICLES
Space Exploration Initiative
VEHICLES