This paper describes an existing facility that could be used in a cost‐effective manner to test space power reactors in the 10 to 100‐kWe range before launch. The facility has been designed to conduct full power tests of 100‐kWe SP‐100 reactor systems and already has the structural features that would be required for lower power testing. The paper describes a reasonable scenario starting with the acceptance at the test site of the unfueled reactor assembly and the separately shipped nuclear fuel. After fueling the reactor and installing it in the facility, cold critical tests are performed, and the reactor is then shipped to the launch site. The availability of this facility represents a cost‐effective means of performing the required prelaunch test program.
A facility for testing 10 to 100‐kWe space power reactors
10th SymposiumùSpace Nuclear Power and Propulsion ; 1993 ; Albuquerque, NM, USA
AIP Conference Proceedings ; 271 , 2 ; 867-872
1993-01-15
6 pages
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
A Facility for Testing 10 to 100-kWe Space Power Reactors
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