Implementation of balanced, cost-efficient programs to develop power technologies would enable future Voyager- and Cassini-class missions at the outermost planets; open up subsurface missions at Europa, Enceladus, and Titan; and facilitate orbiter and lander missions at Neptune and Triton. A rebalancing of the NASA power technology portfolio could establish the option of using fission power in space. The timing is right for the development of a small nuclear reactor design (such as KRUSTY) that can provide power for multi-year robotic missions and serve as a pathfinder and risk reduction strategy for the larger needs of future human exploration space power systems.


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    Title :

    Space fission power: NASA's best bet to continue to explore the outer solar system


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2019-02-25


    Type of media :

    Preprint


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English