Shield Design for Lunar Surface Applications

Journal Article · Fri Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 2006 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2169251· OSTI ID:20798011

Johnson, Gregory A ^[1]

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1. Pratt and Whitney -- Rocketdyne, Inc., 6633 Canoga Avenue, P.O. Box 7922 MC LA-13, Canoga Park, California 91309-7922 (United States)

A shielding concept for lunar surface applications of nuclear power is presented herein. The reactor, primary shield, reactor equipment and power generation module are placed in a cavity in the lunar surface. Support structure and heat rejection radiator panels are on the surface, outside the cavity. The reactor power of 1,320 kWt was sized to deliver 50 kWe from a thermoelectric power conversion subsystem. The dose rate on the surface is less than 0.6 mRem/hr at 100 meters from the reactor. Unoptimized shield mass is 1,020 kg which is much lighter than a comparable 4{pi} shield weighing in at 17,000 kg.

• OSTI ID: 20798011
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 813, Issue 1; Conference: 10. conference on thermophysics applications in microgravity; 23. symposium on space nuclear power and propulsion; 4. conference on human/robotic technology and the national vision for space exploration; 4. symposium on space colonization; 3. symposium on new frontiers and future concepts, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 12-16 Feb 2006; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2169251; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
DESIGN
DOSE RATES
ENERGY CONVERSION
NUCLEAR POWER
POWER GENERATION
RADIATORS
SHIELDING
SHIELDS
SURFACES