Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309141761
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 69
Book Description
Spacecraft require electrical energy. This energy must be available in the outer reaches of the solar system where sunlight is very faint. It must be available through lunar nights that last for 14 days, through long periods of dark and cold at the higher latitudes on Mars, and in high-radiation fields such as those around Jupiter. Radioisotope power systems (RPSs) are the only available power source that can operate unconstrained in these environments for the long periods of time needed to accomplish many missions, and plutonium-238 (238Pu) is the only practical isotope for fueling them. Plutonium-238 does not occur in nature. The committee does not believe that there is any additional 238Pu (or any operational 238Pu production facilities) available anywhere in the world.The total amount of 238Pu available for NASA is fixed, and essentially all of it is already dedicated to support several pending missions-the Mars Science Laboratory, Discovery 12, the Outer Planets Flagship 1 (OPF 1), and (perhaps) a small number of additional missions with a very small demand for 238Pu. If the status quo persists, the United States will not be able to provide RPSs for any subsequent missions.
Radioisotope Power Systems
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309141761
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 69
Book Description
Spacecraft require electrical energy. This energy must be available in the outer reaches of the solar system where sunlight is very faint. It must be available through lunar nights that last for 14 days, through long periods of dark and cold at the higher latitudes on Mars, and in high-radiation fields such as those around Jupiter. Radioisotope power systems (RPSs) are the only available power source that can operate unconstrained in these environments for the long periods of time needed to accomplish many missions, and plutonium-238 (238Pu) is the only practical isotope for fueling them. Plutonium-238 does not occur in nature. The committee does not believe that there is any additional 238Pu (or any operational 238Pu production facilities) available anywhere in the world.The total amount of 238Pu available for NASA is fixed, and essentially all of it is already dedicated to support several pending missions-the Mars Science Laboratory, Discovery 12, the Outer Planets Flagship 1 (OPF 1), and (perhaps) a small number of additional missions with a very small demand for 238Pu. If the status quo persists, the United States will not be able to provide RPSs for any subsequent missions.
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309141761
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 69
Book Description
Spacecraft require electrical energy. This energy must be available in the outer reaches of the solar system where sunlight is very faint. It must be available through lunar nights that last for 14 days, through long periods of dark and cold at the higher latitudes on Mars, and in high-radiation fields such as those around Jupiter. Radioisotope power systems (RPSs) are the only available power source that can operate unconstrained in these environments for the long periods of time needed to accomplish many missions, and plutonium-238 (238Pu) is the only practical isotope for fueling them. Plutonium-238 does not occur in nature. The committee does not believe that there is any additional 238Pu (or any operational 238Pu production facilities) available anywhere in the world.The total amount of 238Pu available for NASA is fixed, and essentially all of it is already dedicated to support several pending missions-the Mars Science Laboratory, Discovery 12, the Outer Planets Flagship 1 (OPF 1), and (perhaps) a small number of additional missions with a very small demand for 238Pu. If the status quo persists, the United States will not be able to provide RPSs for any subsequent missions.
ALSEP Termination Report
Author: James R. Bates
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package
Languages : en
Pages : 184
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package
Languages : en
Pages : 184
Book Description
Space Power Systems Engineering
Author: George C. Szego
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 1483276910
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 1323
Book Description
Space Power Systems Engineering is a collection of papers dealing with the requirements for space power systems, system design, component research, the problems of application to spacecraft, and the development of a variety of space electric power systems. Some papers discuss nuclear power systems development, including nuclear reactors, nuclear dynamic systems, nuclear thermoelectric systems, and nuclear thermionic systems. Several papers tackle solar systems development, including solar collectors, solar dynamic systems, solar thermoelectric systems, chemical fuel cell systems, and chemical primary battery systems. A magnetohydrodynamic power system can be utilized for space electric generation. Power conversion or conditioning involves the interface between raw electric power and the on-board consumption of that electric power. One paper cites an application of a potential power system: particularly the engine development in a power package which includes a single-cylinder engine, generator, gas compressor, and recuperator. Some design considerations for the engine include an operation with an 0-H mixture of 2 to 1 obtained either from supercritical tankage or in the form of helium-diluted boil-off gases; a power level of 2-kw average, 3-kw maximum; and an uninterrupted life of 350 hr. The collection can prove immensely beneficial for nuclear engineers, aeronautical engineers, chemists, researchers, or technical designers whose works are related with energy conversion and space power systems.
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 1483276910
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 1323
Book Description
Space Power Systems Engineering is a collection of papers dealing with the requirements for space power systems, system design, component research, the problems of application to spacecraft, and the development of a variety of space electric power systems. Some papers discuss nuclear power systems development, including nuclear reactors, nuclear dynamic systems, nuclear thermoelectric systems, and nuclear thermionic systems. Several papers tackle solar systems development, including solar collectors, solar dynamic systems, solar thermoelectric systems, chemical fuel cell systems, and chemical primary battery systems. A magnetohydrodynamic power system can be utilized for space electric generation. Power conversion or conditioning involves the interface between raw electric power and the on-board consumption of that electric power. One paper cites an application of a potential power system: particularly the engine development in a power package which includes a single-cylinder engine, generator, gas compressor, and recuperator. Some design considerations for the engine include an operation with an 0-H mixture of 2 to 1 obtained either from supercritical tankage or in the form of helium-diluted boil-off gases; a power level of 2-kw average, 3-kw maximum; and an uninterrupted life of 350 hr. The collection can prove immensely beneficial for nuclear engineers, aeronautical engineers, chemists, researchers, or technical designers whose works are related with energy conversion and space power systems.
107-1 Hearings: Energy and Water Development Appropriations for 2002, Part 4, 2001
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 1580
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 1580
Book Description
Energy and Water Development Appropriations for 1999
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Energy development
Languages : en
Pages : 2032
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Energy development
Languages : en
Pages : 2032
Book Description
Fiscal Year 1993 Department of Energy Authorization: Department of Energy
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Subcommittee on Energy
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 276
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 276
Book Description
Energy and Water Development Appropriations for 1992
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Energy development
Languages : en
Pages : 1800
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Energy development
Languages : en
Pages : 1800
Book Description
Energy and Water Development Appropriations for 1992: Department of Energy
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Energy development
Languages : en
Pages : 1804
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Energy development
Languages : en
Pages : 1804
Book Description
The DOE FY 99 Budget Authorization Request ; H.R. 1806, to Provide for the Consolidation of the DOE Offices of Fossil Energy, Renewable Energy, and Energy Efficiency ; S. 965, to Amend Title II of the Hydrogen Future Act of 1996
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science. Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Federal aid to energy development
Languages : en
Pages : 1052
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Federal aid to energy development
Languages : en
Pages : 1052
Book Description
Energy and Water Development Appropriations for 2000: Department of Energy fiscal year 2000 budget justifications
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Energy development
Languages : en
Pages : 2984
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Energy development
Languages : en
Pages : 2984
Book Description