ML25076A579
| ML25076A579 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/13/2025 |
| From: | Tina Ghosh Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML25076A579 (10) | |
Text
Guidance for Space Fission Reactor Safety Reviews in Different Mission Phases Tina Ghosh, PhD Senior Reactor Systems Engineer Regulatory Information Conference Session TH24 March 13, 2025
Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Board (INSRB)
- Pursuant to NSPM-20, Presidential Memorandum on Launch of Spacecraft Containing Space Nuclear Systems, the INSRB only evaluates Tier II/III government missions, and commercial launches upon the request of the Secretary of Transportation
- INSRB Charter and Playbook are publicly available at Nuclear Flight Safety (nasa.gov)
- Information shared in the summer 2024 virtual open house: https://sma.nasa.gov/docs/default-source/news-documents/insrb-standard.pdf?sfvrsn=a327d5f8_4 INSRB NASA (including Secretariat)
- SECY-24-0008, Micro-Reactor Licensing and Deployment Considerations: Fuel Loading and Operational Testing at a Factory, discussed at last years RIC Session TH21, Assembling the Pieces:
Mobilizing Nuclear Energy with Factory-Fabricated and Transportable Micro-Reactors
- In the SECY enclosure, Technical, Licensing, and Policy Considerations for Factory-Fabricated Micro-Reactors, item 9 discusses Commercial Space Applications:
Terrestrial activities under the NRCs regulatory jurisdiction would include licensing and oversight of manufacture, construction, and potential operation (e.g., for testing or technology demonstration); the FAA would have safety authority for launch Terrestrial Regulation and Safety Reviews
- Discussion under Option 2b in SECY-24-0008 for regulations and guidance on fuel cycle facilities
- Special nuclear material requirements in 10 CFR Part 70, Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material
- Draft NUREG-2212, Standard Review Plan for Applications for 10 CFR PART 70 Licenses for Possession and Use of Special Nuclear Materials of Critical Mass but Not Subject to the Requirements in 10 CFR Part 70, Subpart H
- NUREG-1520, Standard Review Plan for Fuel Cycle Facilities License ApplicationsFinal Report Terrestrial Regulation and Safety ReviewsFuel Cycle Facilities New Fuels Infographic
- SECY-24-0008, enclosure Item 4, Transportation of Fueled Factory-Fabricated Modules, contains background on packaging and transportation
- Radioactive material transportation requirements are in 10 CFR Part 71, Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Material, and U.S. Department of Transportation regulations (49 CFR)
- NUREG-2216, Standard Review Plan for Transportation Packages for Spent Fuel and Radioactive Material is available
- 10 CFR 70.20a and 10 CFR 70.20b, 10 CFR Part 73, Physical Protection of Plants and Materials, related to special nuclear material and physical protection, may be applicable Terrestrial Regulation and Safety ReviewsTransportation New Fuels Infographic
- FAA (Office of Commercial Space Transportation) regulates the commercial launch or reentry of nuclear power sourcesincluding both payloads and launch or reentry vehicle propulsion.
- In 2020, FAA issued a new streamlined, single performance-based launch and reentry rule, 14 CFR Part 450.
Federal Aviation Administrations Role in Space Nuclear Safety
- In 2023, FAA issued Advisory Circular AC 450.45-1, Launch and Reentry of Space Nuclear Systems (SNS).
The purpose of this AC is to guide applicants through the launch and reentry licensing process when SNS are present on a launch or reentry vehicle.
Standards Under Development
- Report of the Interagency Space Reactor Standards Working Group convened by NASA had identified high-priority gaps that should be pursued through a consensus standards development process (2022)
- ASTM Standard Development for Safe Operating Practices In-Space for Space Fission Reactors used for Nuclear Power and Propulsion (ANS NETS 2024 talk)
- ANS-31.1-202x Standard for Testing and Facilities for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Reactors (approved for development)
Contact Information Tina Ghosh, PhD Senior Reactor Systems Engineer Accident Analysis Branch Division of Safety Analysis Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research tina.ghosh@nrc.gov
AC Advisory Circular ANS American Nuclear Society ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials CFR Code of Federal Regulations DoD U.S. Department of Defense DOE U.S. Department of Energy DOS U.S. Department of State DOT U.S. Department of Transportation EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FAA Federal Aviation Administration INSRB Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Board NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NETS Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space NRC U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NSPM National Security Presidential Memorandum SNS Space Nuclear System Acronyms
ANS, Whats New: Approval of Proposed Standards Projects: https://www.ans.org/standards/new/
Bell, Randy, and Don Helton, ASTM Standard Development for Safe Operating Practices In-Space for Space Fission Reactors used for Nuclear Power and Propulsion, ANS NETS 2024:
https://www.ans.org/pubs/proceedings/article-55773/
FAA, Advisory Circular AC 450.45-1, Launch and Reentry of Space Nuclear Systems, https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/1042239 FAA, 14 CFR Part 450, Launch and reentry License Requirements, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-III/subchapter-C/part-450 FAA, Commercial Space Transportation, https://www.faa.gov/space INSRB Standard Information: https://sma.nasa.gov/docs/default-source/news-documents/insrb-standard.pdf?sfvrsn=a327d5f8_4 NASA Office of Safety and Mission Assurance, Nuclear Flight Safety webpage: https://sma.nasa.gov/sma-disciplines/nuclear-flight-safety NASA, Report of the Interagency Space Reactor Standards Working Group: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20220004191/downloads/20220004191a.pdf NRC, Advanced Reactors (non-light-water-reactor designs) homepage: https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/advanced.html NRC, NUREG-2122, Standard Review Plan for Applications for 10 CFR PART 70 Licenses for Possession and Use of Special Nuclear Materials of Critical Mass but Not Subject to the Requirements in 10 CFR Part 70, Subpart HDraft Report for Comment: https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr2212/
NRC, New Fuels infographic: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2313/ML23135A021.pdf NRC, NUREG-1520, Standard Review Plan for Fuel Cycle Facilities License ApplicationsFinal Report: https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1520/r2/index.html NRC, NUREG-2216, Standard Review Plan for Transportation Packages for Spent Fuel and Radioactive Material: Final Report: https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr2216/index.html NRC, RIC 2024 Session TH21, Assembling the Pieces: Mobilizing Nuclear Energy with Factory-Fabricated and Transportable Micro-Reactors: https://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/conference-symposia/ric/past/2024/technical-sessions/sessionabstract21.html NRC, SECY-24-0008, Micro-Reactor Licensing and Deployment Considerations: Fuel Loading and Operational Testing at a Factory: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2320/ML23207A252.html References