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Test facilities for evaluating nuclear thermal propulsion systems

Conference · · AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.43200· OSTI ID:6538712
 [1]; ; ; ; ;  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. Box 5800/6512, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)
  2. Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. Box 5800/6513, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)
  3. Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. Box 5800/9352, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)
  4. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Bldg. 701, Upton, New York 11973 (United States)

Interagency panels evaluating nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) development options have consistently recognized the need for constructing a major new ground test facility to support fuel element and engine testing. This paper summarizes the requirements, configuration, and baseline performance of some of the major subsystems designed to support a proposed ground test complex for evaluating nuclear thermal propulsion fuel elements and engines being developed for the Space Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (SNTP) program. Some preliminary results of evaluating this facility for use in testing other NTP concepts are also summarized.

DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
6538712
Report Number(s):
CONF-930103--
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States), Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States) Vol. 271:2; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English