Summary of Snap Nuclear Space Power Systems

Abstract

The ever-increasing payload capabilities of space-vehicle booster systems require lightweight, long-lived, high-power, reliable electrical power- generating systems. The space power requirements vary from several hundred watts of auxiliary power into the megawatt range for large electrical propulsion applications. the nuclear space power plants, because of the low specific weight, become extremely attractive in the range of several hundred watts and appear to be the only feasible system for power levels over about 30 kw. The paper reviews developments in this area.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1961
Accession Number
ADA286664

Entities

People

  • E. B. Baumeister

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Auxiliary Power Units
  • Control Systems
  • Conversion
  • Converters
  • Coolants
  • Elements
  • Fission Products
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Loss
  • Hydrogen
  • Load Control
  • Materials
  • Power Levels
  • Reactor Control
  • Reactor Coolants
  • Spacecraft
  • Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Satellites