ML22131A215
| ML22131A215 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/12/2022 |
| From: | NRC/OCM |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML22122A066 | List: |
| References | |
| M220512 | |
| Download: ML22131A215 (12) | |
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PPBE23 OMB SubmitSpace Nuclear Power Technology Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mr. James Reuter l Associate Administrator, Space TDr. Anthony Calomino l NASA STMD Space Nuclear Technology Mission Directorate l 9.16.2021echnology Portfolio Manager l May 12, 2022 Space Nuclear Technologies
- Reliable energy production is essential to human and scientific exploration missions
- Nuclear enables higher energy systems that operate continuously in extreme environments
- NASA seeks synergy and collaboration with industry, other government agencies, and academia
Benefits:
Space Leadership National Security Global Competition Domestic Economy Green Energy
2 Space Nuclear Fission Technology Portfolio
Fission Surface Pow er
- Enable sustained, long-duration lunar operations
- Establish an evolvable system for the Moon and Mars
Space Nuclear Propulsion
- Advance a fast transit, in-space, nuclear propulsion capability
- Evaluating nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) and nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) options NASAs priority is surface fission pow er for lunar operations.
NASA and DOE are w orking together to develop low -enriched uranium solutions.
3 Nuclear Power for the Moon and Mars Nuclear power systems will enable robust exploration of Moon and Mars
- Fission power systems can provide abundant and continuous surface power in all environmental conditions on Moon and Mars:
- Lunar night is 14.5 Earth days long and permanently shadowed regions may contain water ice, thus surface nuclear power is required for a sustainable lunar presence
- Mars has recurring planet-wide dust storms that can last for weeks or months
- A fission system designed for a capability demonstration on the Moon will be directly applicable to human Mars exploration
- Recent analyses indicate that a Mars fission surface power system is likely to enable 2-3x less mass to be flown to space and be significantly more reliable than a comparable solar power system in the 10 to 40 kWe class
4 Fission Surface Power Requirements
- Power: 40 k We with technology extensible to higher power
- Mobility: Capable of being transported on a rover
- Mass:Integrted system mass of no more than 6,000 kg
- Life: Ten-year full power capability with a 5 kWe single fault limit
ISRU Operations
HA-LEU Fuel High Assay LEU thermal reactor
Hydride solution using neutron moderator materials provides mass comparable Insulator Insulator to HEU fueled system
5 Nuclear Propulsion
Nuclear thermal provides high propellant efficiency (900 sec Isp) and high thrust (>25,000 lbf) capability Nuclear electric provides very high propellant efficiency (>2000 sec Isp ) w ith less system mass
NTP Spacecraft NTP technology maturation plan considerations* Multi 100- megawatt, high-assay, low enriched uranium reactor
- Extreme temperature reactor fuels and materials
- Reactor materials, manufacturing, and design methods
- Integrated subscale engine design and build
Core Module Inline ModulesExploration Command* Cryogenic fluid storage and management of hydrogen propellant
Module NEP technology maturation plan considerations NEP / Chemical Spacecraft
- Multi-megawatt, high-assay, low enriched uranium reactor
- High efficiency Brayton cycle power conversion Power Module Propulsion Module
- High-power (100 kWe) electric thruster system
Exploration Command Module
- High-power, high-voltage power distribution system
- Cryogenic fluid storage and management of LOx/methane propellants NASA is developing a NEP technology maturation plan 6 Industry Engagements
NASA selected three industry reactor preliminary design efforts in August 2021 Preliminary design of a 12,500 lb, 900 sec Isp, HA-LEU powered reactor with a mass of less than 3500 kg Demonstrate design feasibility, manufacturability, and scalability
General Atomics teamed with X-Energy and USNC partnered with Blue Origin, Aerojet Rocketdyne propose to design a carbide General Electric and Framatone fueled reactor that builds on Project Rover are designing a beryllium moderator block reactor using BWXT joined with Lockheed Martin, and cercer fuel Aerojet Rocketdyne are pursuing a metal hydride moderator block design with cercer fuel
Plan to select 3 industry contract aw ards for Phase 1 preliminary design of an integrated fission pow er system
77 Fuel and Reactor Technology Development Currently working design-agnostic reactor technologies for risk reduction
- 1) Fuel and Moderator Development 2) Manufacturing Demonstration Assess performance at prototypic conditions during Demonstrate new manufacturing processes proposed to steady--state operation and start-up transient characterized to enable a reactor through fabrication of representative design satisfy reactor mission lifetime elements Moderator Fuel Wafers Flow Tubes and Fuel Elements Coated Kernels Solid Core Fuel
- 3) Nominal and Off-nominal Reactor Operation 4) New Test Methods and Facilities Demonstrate the engineering functionality of representative Modify existing facilities to enhance prototypical test design elements through combined thermal and nuclear loads capabilities and identify new, high-value test facilities that may testing to increase confidence be needed to reduce design risks CFEET NTREES T R E AT Representative Unit SMARTFlowing Hydrogen/TREAT
SNS preflight testing limited to zero-power critical to minimize nuclide production 8 Interagency Collaborations
DRACO Spacecraft Fuel Manufacturing
Pow er SNS Coordination
DEFENSE INNOVATION UNIT Leverage Materials and Testing Commonality:
Reactor Designs Fuel Production Reactor Materials Launch Regulations
9 Federal Policy and Processes
NSPM-20 SPD-6 Updates launch approval Defines national strategy process and establishes for use of space nuclear quantified risk levels power and propulsion systems Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Department Of Defines: Transportation
OSTP/NSTC Agency launch authorityEO 13972 Integrated implementation Interagency reviews (INSRB)Directs NASA to utilize of SPD-6 and EO 13972 common nuclear systems for with integrated interagency Use of HEU versus LEUexploration missions roadmap Commercial launch processthrough 2040
Process for interagency roadmap 10 Preliminary Space Nuclear Fission Systems Roadmap
NEP - NTP Decision GateSystem SelectionFlight Demonstration NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion Human Rated (Notional)
NASA CFM
NTP DARPA DRACO Integrated Flight Test DRACO Reactor Test NASA NTP Technology Development NTP Dow nselect Option SMART Test NASA NEP Technology DevelopmentNEP Dow nselect Option NEP TDU Test NASA Advanced Propulsion Concepts
NASA Fission Surface Pow er Higher Pow er Systems FSP Flight SystemFSP Demo DOD Mobile Reactor (PELE)
1111 Key Takeaways
- NASA is working with other government agencies to establish a common technology development roadmap that leverage common priorities and resources
- NASA will continue to closely engage commercial capabilities and innovations for LEU reactor solutions
- NASA will leverage terrestrial and other government agency standards to develop space-based design, safety, launch, operation, and governance practices Establish space-rated reactor design standards (reactor fuel and material limits)
Establish probability methods for nuclear launch safety analysis Address human operation and safety concerns Minimize barriers for space commerce use and licensing Reactor control, maintenance, and disposal Identify requirements for NEPA, ground testing, transportation, and launch operations 12