The roles and functions of a lunar base Nuclear Technology Center

Conference · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6084820

Buden, D ^[1]; Angelo, Jr, J A ^[2]

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1. EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
2. Science Applications International Corp., Melbourne, FL (United States)

This paper describes the roles and functions of a special Nuclear Technology Center which is developed as an integral part of a permanent lunar base. Numerous contemporary studies clearly point out that nuclear energy technology will play a major role in any successful lunar/Mars initiative program and in the overall establishment of humanity's solar system civilization. The key role of nuclear energy in the providing power has been recognized. A Nuclear Technology Center developed as part of of a permanent lunar base can also help bring about many other nuclear technology applications, such as producing radioisotopes for self-illumination, food preservation, waste sterilization, and medical treatment; providing thermal energy for mining, materials processing and agricultural; and as a source of emergency habitat power. Designing such a center will involve the deployment, operation, servicing and waste product management and disposal of megawatt class reactor power plants. This challenge must be met with a minimum of direct human support at the facility. Furthermore, to support the timely, efficient integration of this Nuclear Technology Center in the evolving lunar base infrastructure, an analog of such a facility will be needed here on Earth. 12 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 6084820
• Report Number(s): EGG-M-91483; CONF-9110217--4; ON: DE92003325
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
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Radiation Processing-- (1987-)
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
AGRICULTURE
ENERGY
EQUIPMENT
EXPLORATION
INDUSTRY
ISOTOPE PRODUCTION
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
LUNA SPACE PROBES
MANAGEMENT
MANIPULATORS
MARS SPACE PROBES
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR ENERGY
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
POWER GENERATION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
REMOTE HANDLING EQUIPMENT
ROBOTS
SPACE
SPACE VEHICLES
STERILIZATION
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
VEHICLES
WASTE MANAGEMENT