The important problem of disposal of nuclear waste in space is addressed. A prior study proposed carrying only actinide wastes to space, but the present study assumes that all actinides and all fission products are to be carried to space. It is shown that nuclear waste in the calcine (oxide) form can be packaged in a container designed to provide thermal control, radiation shielding, mechanical containment, and an abort reentry thermal protection system. This package can be transported to orbit via the Space Shuttle. A second Space Shuttle delivers an oxygen-hydrogen orbit transfer vehicle to a rendezvous compatible orbit and the mated OTV and waste package are sent to the preferred destination. Preferred locations are either a lunar crater or a solar orbit. Shuttle traffic densities (which vary in time) are given and the safety of space disposal of wastes discussed.
The disposal of nuclear waste in space
Aerospace Sciences Meeting ; 1978 ; Huntsville, AL
1978-01-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
Nuclear Waste Disposal in Space
NTIS | 1978
|Nuclear waste disposal in space
TIBKAT | 1978
|Nuclear waste disposal in space
NTRS | 1978
|Space disposal of nuclear waste
Tema Archive | 1978
|The disposal of nuclear waste in space
AIAA | 1978
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