Nuclear Power Assessment Study–Final TSSD-23122 JHU/APL Work Performed Under Task: NNN13AA17T NASA Contract NNN06AA01C Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office: Radioisotope Power Systems Program Office Location: Glenn Research Center Nuclear Power Assessment Study Final Report 4 February 2015 Released on 1 June 2015 The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory 11100 Johns Hopkins Road Laurel MD 20723 Prepared for: June F. Zakrajsek 21000 Brookpark Road Cleveland OH 44135 Phone: (216) 977-7470 E-mail: [email protected] JHU/APL POCs: Dr. Ralph L. McNutt, Jr. (Study Chair) Dr. Paul H. Ostdiek (Program Manager) Mail Stop: 200-E258 Mail Stop: 200-E520 Phone: (240) 228-5435 Phone: (240) 228-8698 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] This technical study was intended to identify strategies and issues to the provisioning of safe, reliable and affordable nuclear power systems for potential consideration by NASA's Science Mission Directorate. It is not intended to represent NASA policy or planning. Nuclear Power Assessment Study–Final NUCLEAR POWER ASSESSMENT STUDY Final Report Radioisotope Power Systems Program Nuclear Power Assessment Study–Final TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................ I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................................... 1 NASA Nuclear Power Requirements ................................................................................................................................... 6 Sustainability ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Fission Power System Possibilities for SMD ........................................................................................................................ 8 Technical ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Fuel availability ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 Fuel and security costs of FPS versus RPS ............................................................................................................ 9 Flight FPS costs remain unknown ............................................................................................................................ 9 PREFACE ............................................................................................................................................................ 11 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....................................................................................................................................... 14 1 | INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 15 1.1 | Study Objectives and Terms of Reference ......................................................................................................... 15 1.2 | Study Organization ................................................................................................................................................ 15 1.3 | Study Methodology ................................................................................................................................................ 16 2 | DESIGN REFERENCE MISSIONS .................................................................................................................. 17 2.1 | Mission Study Goals and Methodology .............................................................................................................. 17 2.1.1 | DRM Selection Overview ....................................................................................................................... 18 2.1.2 | Decadal Survey TSSM Concept Overview ......................................................................................... 18 2.1.3 | Decadal Survey UOP Concept Overview ........................................................................................... 20 2.1.4 | DRM Ground Rules .................................................................................................................................. 21 2.2 | NPAS DRM Results ................................................................................................................................................... 22 2.2.1 | Summary .................................................................................................................................................... 22 2.2.2 | NPAS TSSM RPS Study Results .............................................................................................................. 22 2.2.2.1 | NPAS TSSM RPS Study Ground Rules and Method .................................................... 22 2.2.2.2 | NPAS TSSM RPS Study – Questions Answered ........................................................... 23 2.2.2.3 | NPAS TSSM RPS Study Options Summary .................................................................... 23 2.2.3 | NPAS UOP RPS Study Results ............................................................................................................... 23 2.2.3.1 | NPAS UOP RPS Study Approach, Challenges, Constraints, and Assumptions ....... 24 2.2.3.2 | NPAS UOP RPS Study - Questions Answered .............................................................. 25 2.2.3.3 | 2014 UOP Replacement Options Summary ................................................................. 25 2.2.4 | NPAS TSSM FPS Study Results .............................................................................................................. 26 2.2.4.1 | NPAS TSSM FPS Study Approach, Ground Rules and Assumptions ......................... 27 2.2.4.2 | Mission Accommodations .................................................................................................. 29 2.2.4.3 | NPAS TSSM FPS Study – Questions Answered ............................................................ 29 2.2.4.4 | NPAS TSSM FPS Study Options Summary .................................................................... 30 2.2.5 | NPAS UOP FPS Study Results ................................................................................................................ 31 2.2.5.1 | NPAS UOP FPS Study Approach, Constraints, and Assumptions .............................. 31 2.2.5.2 | NPAS UOP FPS Study Summary ..................................................................................... 32 2.2.6 | Mission Opportunities with Higher Power ........................................................................................... 32 2.3 | Assembly, Test, and Launch Operations (ATLO) for Nuclear-enabled Missions at Kennedy Space Center: RPS and FPS .................................................................................................................................. 33 2.3.1 | Summary .................................................................................................................................................... 33 2.3.2 | Nuclear Mission ATLO Team’s Objectives ........................................................................................... 33 2.3.3 | ATLO Assessment Development Process .............................................................................................. 34 2.3.4 | ATLO Assessment Approach .................................................................................................................. 34 2.3.5 | New RPS Assessment ............................................................................................................................... 34 i Nuclear Power Assessment Study–Final 2.3.5.1 | Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators ..................................................................... 34 2.3.5.2 | Stirling Radioisotope Generator Systems ..................................................................... 35 2.3.6 | FPS Assessment ......................................................................................................................................... 36 2.3.6.1 | Compare or Contrast with Existing RPS Experience ................................................... 36 2.3.6.2 | Security Considerations .................................................................................................... 36 2.3.6.3 | Operations Analysis .......................................................................................................... 37 2.4 | Instrument Sensitivity Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 39 2.4.1 | Summary .................................................................................................................................................... 39 2.4.2 | Objectives, Approaches, and Assumptions ......................................................................................... 39 2.4.3 | Reference Radioisotope Systems .......................................................................................................... 40 2.4.4 | Impact of RPS Implementations on TSSM and UOP Payloads