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Accession Number
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PB2012-111122
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Title
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Non-Nuclear Testing of Space Nuclear Systems at NASA MSFC.
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Publication Date
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2010
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Media Count
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30p
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Personal Author
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A. E. Garber D. E. Bradley J. B. Pearson J. J. Martin K. C. Aschenbrenner M. G. Houts R. E. Dickens R. T. Harper T. J. Godfroy W. J. Emrich
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Abstract
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Highly realistic non-nuclear testing can be used to investigate and resolve potential issues with space nuclear power and propulsion systems. Non-nuclear testing is particularly useful for systems designed with fuels and materials operating within their demonstrated nuclear performance envelope. Non-nuclear testing allows thermal hydraulic, heat transfer, structural, integration, safety, operational, performance, and other potential issues to be investigated and resolved with a greater degree of flexibility and at reduced cost and schedule compared to nuclear testing. The primary limit of non-nuclear testing is that nuclear characteristics and potential nuclear issues cannot be directly investigated. However, nonnuclear testing can be used to augment the potential benefit from any nuclear testing that may be required for space nuclear system design and development. This paper describes previous and ongoing non-nuclear testing related to space nuclear systems at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC).
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Keywords
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Fuels
Gas cooled reactors
Heat transfer
Nuclear fission
Nuclear testing
Performance
Propulsion systems
Radioisotope heat sources
Safety
Space power reactors
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Source Agency
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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NTIS Subject Category
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77C - Nuclear Auxiliary Power Systems
81I - Nuclear Propulsion
84 - Space Technology
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Corporate Author
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Huntsville, AL. George C. Marshall Space Flight Center.
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Document Type
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Technical report
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Title Note
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N/A
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NTIS Issue Number
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1219
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Contract Number
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N/A
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