The past as prologue: a look at historical flight qualifications for space nuclear systems

Author

Bennett, Gary L.

Author_Institution

NASA, Washington, DC, USA

Volume

7

Issue

11

fYear

1992

Firstpage

26

Lastpage

36

Abstract

The author examines what it means to flight qualify a space nuclear system. He reviews several qualification programs, including the general-purpose heat source radioisotope thermoelectric generators (GPHS-RTGs) as developed for the Galilee and Ulysses missions, the SNAP-10A space reactor, the Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Applications (NERVA), the F-1 chemical engine used on the Saturn-V, and the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs). Similarities and contrasts are noted.<>

Keywords

aerospace engines; aerospace propulsion; fission reactors; rockets; F-1 chemical engine; Galilee; Nuclear Engine; Rocket Vehicle Applications; SNAP-10A space reactor; Saturn-V; Space Shuttle Main Engines; Ulysses missions; aerospace engine; aerospace propulsion; flight qualifications; heat source radioisotope thermoelectric generators; space nuclear systems; Heat engines; Inductors; Nuclear power generation; Qualifications; Radioactive materials; Rockets; Space heating; Space missions; Space shuttles; Thermoelectricity;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-8985

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/62.166863

Filename

166863