Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Supplemental information on a conceptual design of a space-based multimegawatt MHD power system

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:612174

The objective of this project is to perform a feasibility assessment of space-based multimegawatt (MMW) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power systems for Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) mission applications and to resolve technical uncertainties that may impact their future implementation. The ultimate goal of the SDIO is to provide security for the United States and Its allies. The near term objective of the SDIO is to conduct research on those technologies for defensive systems that might be capable of intercepting ballistic missiles after launch and preventing them from hitting their targets. System concepts currently being considered for space-based weapons applications will, if implemented, require specially tailored power systems. These power systems may possess characteristics and specifications lying considerably outside the design range of conventional devices. Their development may require major advances in existing technology and the accelerated development of entirely new approaches.

Research Organization:
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Large, PA (United States). Advanced Energy Systems Div.
OSTI ID:
612174
Report Number(s):
AD-A--338957/4/XAB; WAESD-TR--88-0004
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Multimegawatt Space Reactor Safety
Conference · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA) · OSTI ID:6387258

Strategic Defense Initiative - an overview
Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1984 · Horizons; (United States) · OSTI ID:5841389

Space-Based Chemical Lasers in strategic defense
Conference · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · OSTI ID:6975588