ML22131A215

M220512: Slides/Supporting Presentation Material - Anthony Calomino, Nasa - Briefing on Advanced Reactor Activities with Federal Partners

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Issue date:	05/12/2022
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M220512
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Space Nuclear PPBE23 OMBPower Submit Technology Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mr. James Reuter l Associate Administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate l 9.16.2021 Dr. Anthony Calomino l NASA STMD Space Nuclear Technology 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 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 NASAs priority is surface fission power for lunar operations.

NASA and DOE are working together to develop low-enriched uranium solutions.

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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 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 High Assay LEU thermal reactor HA-LEU Fuel Hydride solution using neutron moderator Insulator materials provides mass comparable 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) with less system mass NTP technology maturation plan considerations NTP Spacecraft

• 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 Modules

• Cryogenic fluid storage and management of hydrogen propellant Exploration Command 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 awards for Phase 1 preliminary design of an integrated fission power system 7

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 TREAT Representative Unit Flowing Hydrogen/TREAT SMART SNS preflight testing limited to zero-power critical to minimize nuclide production 8

Interagency Collaborations DRACO Spacecraft Fuel Manufacturing Power SNS Coordination DEFENSE INNOVATION UNIT Materials and Testing Leverage Commonality:

Reactor Designs Fuel Production Reactor Materials Launch Regulations 9

Federal Policy and Processes SPD-6 NSPM-20 Defines national strategy Updates launch approval for use of space nuclear process and establishes power and propulsion quantified risk levels systems Nuclear Regulatory Commission Department Of Defines: Transportation OSTP/NSTC Agency launch authority EO 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 LEU exploration missions roadmap through 2040 Commercial launch process Process for interagency roadmap 10

Preliminary Space Nuclear Fission Systems Roadmap NEP - NTP Decision Gate System Selection Flight Demonstration NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion Human Rated (Notional)

Nuclear Propulsion NASA CFM NTP DARPA DRACO Integrated Flight Test DRACO Reactor Test NASA NTP Technology Development NTP Downselect Option SMART Test NASA NEP Technology Development NEP Downselect Option NEP TDU Test NASA Advanced Propulsion Concepts Nuclear Power NASA Fission Surface Power Higher Power Systems FSP Flight System FSP Demo DOD Mobile Reactor (PELE) 11

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