ML22131A215
| ML22131A215 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/12/2022 |
| From: | NRC/OCM |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML22122A066 | List: |
| References | |
| M220512 | |
| Download: ML22131A215 (12) | |
Text
PPBE23 OMB Submit Mr. James Reuter l Associate Administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate l 9.16.2021 Space Nuclear Power Technology Nuclear Regulatory Commission Dr. Anthony Calomino l NASA STMD Space Nuclear Technology Portfolio Manager l May 12, 2022
Space Nuclear Technologies 2
- 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
NASAs priority is surface fission power for lunar operations.
NASA and DOE are working together to develop low-enriched uranium solutions.
Fission Surface Power
- 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 Space Nuclear Fission Technology Portfolio 3
4 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 Nuclear Power for the Moon and Mars
5 Power: 40 kWe 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 Fission Surface Power Requirements High Assay LEU thermal reactor solution using neutron moderator materials provides mass comparable to HEU fueled system HA-LEU Fuel Hydride Insulator Insulator
6 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) with less system mass NEP technology maturation plan considerations
- Multi-megawatt, high-assay, low enriched uranium reactor
- High efficiency Brayton cycle power conversion
- High-power (100 kWe) electric thruster system
- High-power, high-voltage power distribution system
- Cryogenic fluid storage and management of LOx/methane propellants Power Module Propulsion Module Exploration Command Module NEP / Chemical Spacecraft 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
- Cryogenic fluid storage and management of hydrogen propellant Exploration Command Module Core Module Inline Modules NASA is developing a NEP technology maturation plan
7 Industry Engagements NASA selected three industry reactor preliminary design efforts in August 2021 7
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 USNC partnered with Blue Origin, General Electric and Framatone are designing a beryllium moderator block reactor using cercer fuel General Atomics teamed with X-Energy and Aerojet Rocketdyne propose to design a carbide fueled reactor that builds on Project Rover BWXT joined with Lockheed Martin, and Aerojet Rocketdyne are pursuing a metal hydride moderator block design with cercer fuel Plan to select 3 industry contract awards for Phase 1 preliminary design of an integrated fission power system
- 1) Fuel and Moderator Development Assess performance at prototypic conditions during steady--state operation and start-up transient characterized to satisfy reactor mission lifetime
- 2) Manufacturing Demonstration Demonstrate new manufacturing processes proposed to enable a reactor through fabrication of representative design elements
- 3) Nominal and Off-nominal Reactor Operation Demonstrate the engineering functionality of representative design elements through combined thermal and nuclear loads testing to increase confidence
- 4) New Test Methods and Facilities Modify existing facilities to enhance prototypical test capabilities and identify new, high-value test facilities that may be needed to reduce design risks Fuel and Reactor Technology Development 8
Currently working design-agnostic reactor technologies for risk reduction Solid Core Fuel Coated Kernels Moderator Fuel Wafers Flow Tubes and Fuel Elements CFEET NTREES TREAT Representative Unit SMART Flowing Hydrogen/TREAT SNS preflight testing limited to zero-power critical to minimize nuclide production
Interagency Collaborations 9
Fuel Manufacturing Materials and Testing Leverage Commonality:
Reactor Designs
Fuel Production
Reactor Materials
Launch Regulations Power SNS Coordination DEFENSE INNOVATION UNIT DRACO Spacecraft
Federal Policy and Processes 10 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Department Of Transportation NSPM-20 Updates launch approval process and establishes quantified risk levels SPD-6 Defines national strategy for use of space nuclear power and propulsion systems EO 13972 Directs NASA to utilize common nuclear systems for exploration missions through 2040 OSTP/NSTC Integrated implementation of SPD-6 and EO 13972 with integrated interagency roadmap
Agency launch authority
Interagency reviews (INSRB)
Commercial launch process
Process for interagency roadmap Defines:
11 Preliminary Space Nuclear Fission Systems Roadmap Nuclear Propulsion Nuclear Power NASA NTP Technology Development Higher Power Systems NTP NEP - NTP Decision Gate System Selection Flight Demonstration NASA Advanced Propulsion Concepts Human Rated (Notional)
DRACO Reactor Test SMART Test NEP TDU Test NTP Downselect Option DOD Mobile Reactor (PELE)
NASA Fission Surface Power NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion NASA CFM Integrated Flight Test DARPA DRACO NASA NEP Technology Development 11 NEP Downselect Option FSP Demo FSP Flight System
12 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