Accession Number:

AD1122973

Title:

Space Nuclear Propulsion: History, Cost, and Status of Programs

Descriptive Note:

[Technical Report, Congressional Testimony]

Corporate Author:

GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Kingsbury, Nancy R.

Report Date:

1992-10-01

Pagination or Media Count:

9

Abstract:

DOD and NASA are pursuing separate approaches to develop space nuclear thermal propulsion programs. The DOD program differs from the NASA approach primarily in the manner in which the nuclear fuel is packed in the reactor. NASAs approach, based on technology developed and tested from 1955 to 1972, involves the use of nuclear fuel encased in rods. DODs approach envisions use of a nuclear fuel encapsulated in very small particles. If this particle bed reactor technology can be developed, it is expected to significantly increase the performance of future nuclear rocket engines.

Descriptors:

• thermal propulsion systems
• propulsion systems
• test facilities
• nuclear fuels
• nuclear reactors
• rocket engines
• department of defense
• nuclear energy
• nuclear propulsion
• air force
• earth orbits
• fission
• space exploration
• orbits
• rockets
• systems engineering
• united states
• ballistic missiles
• corporations
• electric propulsion

Subject Categories:

• Rocket Engines
• Nuclear Power Plants and Fission Reactor Engineering

Distribution Statement:

[A, Approved For Public Release]