Johnson said that in addition to the research and development that has taken place over the past several decades, the existing physical infrastructure dedicated to creating the nuclear reactor, power conversion, heat rejection and space flight technology will make the 2026 timeline attainable. Heat rejection technology is also important to maintain the correct operating temperatures for the equipment." Those engines use the heat, convert it to electric power that is conditioned and distributed to user equipment on the lunar and Martian surfaces. The power conversion system will consist of engines that are designed to operate on reactor heat rather than combustible fuel. "The small nuclear reactor will generate heat that is transferred to the power conversion system. "A low enriched form of nuclear fuel will power the nuclear core," he said. But is the plan realistic, and is delivery possible six years from now? According to Steve Johnson, director of the Space Nuclear Power and Isotope Technologies Division at the Idaho National Laboratory, the answer is "yes." NASA is working on this with the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a nuclear research facility that's part of the DOE's complex of labs. The ability to produce large amounts of electrical power on planetary surfaces using a fission surface power system would enable large-scale exploration, establishment of human outposts, and utilization of in situ resources, while allowing for the possibility of commercialization."
"Four units, providing 10 kilowatts of electrical power each, would provide enough power to establish an outpost on the moon or Mars. "Once the technology is proven through the demonstration, future systems could be scaled up or multiple units could be used together for long-duration missions to the moon and eventually Mars," Calomino said. The demonstration is expected to last for one year, and could ultimately lead to extended missions on the moon, Mars, and beyond. A lander will lower it to the surface, and once it arrives, it will be ready for operation with no additional assembly or construction required. Afterwards, it will be integrated with a lunar lander, and a launch vehicle will transport it to an orbit around the moon.
0 kommentar(er)
