Space Technology Mission Directorate: Game Changing Development Program: Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

Mitchell, Doyce P

关键词: NUCLEAR PROPULSION;    URANIUM;    URANIUM COMPOUNDS;    REFRACTORY METALS;    FISSION;    MARS MISSIONS;    SPACE EXPLORATION;    NASA SPACE PROGRAMS;   

RP-ID  :  MSFC-E-DAA-TN60847

学科分类：航空航天科学

美国|英语

来源: NASA Technical Reports Server

【 摘 要 】

Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) can help enable detailed exploration of the solar system, extensive development and utilization of cis-lunar space, and robust human Mars architectures. To improve affordability and viability, NTP systems that utilize low-enriched uranium (LEU) instead of highly enriched uranium (HEU) are being devised. Advanced fuel manufacturing techniques will help enable the use of LEU in certain fission systems previously thought to require HEU. The current LEU NTP baseline engine relies on a fission reactor containing fuel elements made of uranium nitride and refractory metals.