SP-100 (Space reactor Prototype[1]) was a U.S. research program for nuclear fission reactors usable as small fission power systems for spacecraft.[2] It was started in 1983 by NASA, the US Department of Energy and other agencies.[3]
A reactor was developed with heat pipes transporting the heat to thermoelectric generators. It was cooled with lithium.[4] The project never advanced to flight hardware and was terminated in 1994.[5]
See also
edit- Systems Nuclear Auxiliary Power Program and SNAP-10A, that flew in 1965
- Safe Affordable Fission Engine, a later project
- Kilopower, a later small space reactor
References
edit- ^ Acronyms: SP-100 means Space reactor prototype
- ^ "SP-100 Advanced Technology Program". NASA. Retrieved Oct 27, 2024.
- ^ SP-100, the US Space Nuclear Reactor Power Program, Technical information report. Available at Energy Citations Database
- ^ Stănculescu, Adrian (2005). The Role of Nuclear Power and Nuclear Propulsion in the Peaceful Exploration (PDF). Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency. pp. 21–22. ISBN 92-0-107404-2. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
- ^
Mason, Lee; Bailey, Sterling; Bechtel, Ryan; Elliott, John; Fleurial, Jean-Pierre; Houts, Mike; Kapernick, Rick; Lipinski, Ron; MacPherson, Duncan; Moreno, Tom; Nesmith, Bill; Poston, Dave; Qualls, Lou; Radel, Ross; Weitzberg, Abraham; Werner, Jim (18 November 2010). "Small Fission Power System Feasibility Study — Final Report". NASA/DOE. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
The SP-100 program objective was to develop the technologies needed for a broad range of space missions requiring a high power-to-weight ratio with nominal 100 kWe power output. The program began in 1982 and was terminated by Congress in 1994. A high temperature (1350 K) refractory alloy heat transport system with thermoelectric power conversion was designed, uranium nitride fuel was fabricated and irradiated to 6% burnup, and significant amounts of hardware and electronics were successfully tested.
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