Technical note: The Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Panel's evaluation of the Ulysses space mission

Journal Article · · Nuclear Safety; (United States)

OSTI ID:6677627

Sholtis, Jr, J A; Winchester, R O ^[1]; Huff, D A; Klug, N P ^[2]; Gray, L B ^[3]

---

1. Air Force Safety Agency, Kirtland AFB, NM (United States)
2. Department of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
3. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (United States)

thee October 1990 launch and deployment of the nuclear-powered Ulysses spacecraft from the Space Shuttle Discovery culminated an extensive safety review and evaluation effort by the Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Panel (INSRP). After more than a year of detailed independent review, study, and analysis, the INSRP prepared a Safety Evaluation Report (SER) on the Ulysses mission in accordance with Presidential Directive/National Security Council Memorandum 25. The SER, which included a review of the Ulysses Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR) and an independent characterization of the mission risks, was used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in its decision to request launch approval as well as by the Executive Office of the President in arriving at a launch decision based on risk-benefit considerations. This paper provides an overview of the Ulysses mission and the conduct, as well as results, of th INSRP evaluation. Although the mission risk determined by the INSRP in the SER was higher than that characterized by the Ulysses project in the FSAR, both reports indicated that the radiological risks were relatively small. In the final analysis, the SER proved to be supportive of a positive launch decision. The INSRP evaluation process has demonstrated its effectiveness numerous times since the 1960s. In every case it has provided the essential ingredients and perspective to permit an informed launch decision at the highest level of our government. 6 refs., 3 figs., 4 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6677627
• Journal Information: Nuclear Safety; (United States), Vol. 32:4; ISSN 0029-5604
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
SPACE VEHICLES
LAUNCHING
SAFETY ANALYSIS
EVALUATION
NASA
NUCLEAR POWER
SPACE SHUTTLES
AIRCRAFT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POWER
US ORGANIZATIONS
VEHICLES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
290600* - Energy Planning & Policy- Nuclear Energy