Nuclear Power Applications in Space
American Nuclear Society
Why Nuclear For Space Exploration? NUCLEAR POWER ALREADY IN USE
• Nuclear fuels are a million times more energy dense than chemical fuels Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs)
• Chemical fuels have reached their practical limits
• Nuclear reactors give more thrust allowing missions to be completed faster, RTGs have been used to produce power on space probes
meaning less exposure time for astronauts to hostile space environment and other missions for the past 25 years. They use the natural
• Radioactive isotopes are able to provide heat and electricity for several decades decay of Plutonium-238 to create about 230 W of electricity.
The Cassini Mission is powered
• Only nuclear reactors are a practical source of electricity as we move farther by RTGs and the systems kept Ideal for interplanetary missions, they are compact weighing
and farther away from the Sun warm by pellets of Plutonium. only 120 lbs, 45 inches in height, 18 inches in diameter and
operate unattended for several decades.
Plutonium Heat Generators
Small amounts of Plutonium-238 are often placed on space
Energy is Derived from Nuclear Reactions What About Radiation From Space Reactors? probes and vehicles. Because the natural decay produces heat,
they are optimal for providing warmth for computers and
other systems needing room temperature operation.
Nuclear Fission Radioisotope Thermoelectric
Space is essentially an ocean of radiation. The Sun Generator (RTG)
• Fission occurs when a free neutron strikes a heavy atom such as gives off far more radiation from its fusion than we
Uranium or Plutonium. This collision causes the atom to break apart
or fission. could ever become close to matching. The Earth’s
• The atom splits apart into two highly energetic fragments which
deposit their energy making heat
magnetic field protects us from this harmful radiation.
• Also 2-3 additional neutrons result which can strike other atoms However, astronauts are exposed to this, and spending
causing them to fission resulting in a chain reaction too much time in space can lead to health effects. It is
• The reaction rate can be controlled in a nuclear reactor allowing
production of electricity from the heat generated important that space crafts be shielded from the
hostile radiation environment of space.
Nuclear Fusion
Fusion & Future Propulsion
Although nuclear reactors give off radiation, the
• Fusion occurs when two light atoms smash into each other and
combine crew can be protected by distance and shielding.
• The products are lighter than the reactants meaning some of the Note the reactor is located on the end of the boom in Magnetic Confined Fusion (MCF) Propulsion
mass gets converted to energy
• Fusion is more energy dense than fission the picture of the ship on the right, a safe distance
• The most common reaction involves two hydrogen isotopes from the crew. Nuclear reactors allow ships to This concept is based on the Magnetic Fusion concept. It confines
(Deuterium and Tritium) fusing to make Helium Deuterium and Tritium (D-T) ions with a magnetic field. The D-T ions
• Nuclear fusion is the process powering the stars reach their destination faster actually lowering their
• As of yet, fusion as an electricity source has not yet been achieved total radiation exposure. Since reactors are well are heated to a temperature of 100 million degrees C. All matter at
and is currently being researched this state becomes a plasma or ionized gas and must be confined with a
contained, it can withstand any reentry disasters
and pose little to no risk to the general public should magnetic field. These ions are moving so fast that they fuse when they
such a scenario occur. smash into each other. The reaction creates highly energetic
byproducts which are accelerated out the back of the engine propelling
the craft forward.
Inertial Confined Fusion (ICF) Propulsion
Fission Reactors In Space This engine works on the Inertial Fusion concept. A small D-T pellet is
injected into the reactor chamber. Several lasers or heavy ion beams
Nuclear Fission Propulsion works by having a reactor generate fire simultaneously at the target pellet causing the pellet to collapse
Fission Fragment Interstellar Probes
heat. Liquid Hydrogen or Ammonia propellant is pumped into a and inducing a small thermonuclear explosion similar to a hydrogen
vessel by the reactor. The propellant is heated up, vaporizes, and bomb. The force of the explosion propels the craft forward. Main
The fragments from a fission reaction are extremely energetic and technical difficulties are in the laser driver systems being very heavy
is ejected out of a nozzle propelling a spacecraft forward.
could be used for propulsion. The fuel is located on thin disks that and requiring a great deal of power.
The first fission propulsion systems were rotate in and out of the reactor (see figure to left). Because the disks
investigated in the 1960s and 1970s. The are thin, many of the fragments can escape and be accelerated by a
capstone design from this program was called magnetic field. These fragments are ejected out of the probe and the
NERVA (Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle ship is propelled forward at extremely fast velocities. It is also possible Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) Fusion Propulsion
Application). The program was cancelled in to attach a sail to the probe allowing the fragments to push the probe
1972 as the finishing touches of the propulsion even more when far away from the Sun. The high speeds this craft Electrostatic Fields are used to accelerate fusion fuels (either D, T, or
system were being applied. Fission propulsion can reach make it ideal for probing nearby stars in the future. 3He) toward the center of the grid. The grid is mostly transparent and
is a tested and feasible technology. Current the particles are accelerated toward the center at which point they
research is in engineering nozzles and strike each other and fuse. The fusion fragments are accelerated out of
NERVA Rocket Prototype propellant circulation systems. Design and conception of the Fission the reactor and are used to propel the craft forward.
Fragment Interstellar Probe.
Designs for early Nuclear Fission Reactor
Propulsion systems in 1960s and 1970s.
Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter
NASA has recently proposed to start work on the Jupiter Icy Moons
Antiproton Catalyzed Micro-fission/Fusion Propulsion
Orbiter (JIMO) to be completed by around 2011. JIMO is designed
to orbit three of Jupiter’s moons: Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. This propulsion scheme uses pellets mixed of Uranium and D-T fuels.
JIMO’s mission is to find evidence of life on the moons such as the Lasers or heavy ion beams compress the pellet. At maximum
existence of oceans. It will collect data that will hopefully tell us compression, a small number of antiprotons (10^9) are fired at the
about their surfaces and perhaps some clues as to their origins. pellet to catalyze the Uranium fission process. The fission heat causes
Additionally, JIMO will measure the radiation levels near the a fusion burn and the expanding plasma pushes the craft forward.
moons. JIMO is to be powered by a nuclear fission reactor This system gets around typical restrictions of antimatter propulsion
projected to have a power output of around 250,000 Watts. because it uses a relatively small amount of expensive antimatter. This
Artist’s conception of the Jupiter Icy Moons Compare this to Cassini which runs on a mere 100 Watts of craft would be capable of reaching Pluto in 3 years with a 100 million
Orbiter approaching Europa. The fission reactor
electricity. JIMO will illustrate the power of nuclear fission ton payload.
is located at the end of the boom near the top of the
picture. reactors on space probes.
“Without nuclear-powered spacecraft, we'll never get
anywhere”
-- Dr. Robert Zubrin Images courtesy of NASA, JK Rawlings, and JPL
Poster by Brian C Kiedrowski
