Heatpipe-operated Mars Exploration Reactor (HOMER).

Poston, D. I.

Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee

关键词: Heat pipes;    Mars space probes;    Space power reactors;    Exploration;    Fission;   

RP-ID  :  DE2001766062

学科分类：工程和技术（综合）

美国|英语

来源: National Technical Reports Library

【 摘 要 】

The Heatpipe Power System (HPS) is a near-term low-cost, space fission power system that has been under development at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for 5 years. The goal of the HPS project is to devise an attractive space fission system that can be developed quickly and affordably. The primary ways of doing this are by using existing technology and by designing the system for inexpensive testing. If the system can be designed to allow highly prototypic testing with electrical heating, then an exhaustive test program can be carried out inexpensively and quickly and thorough testing of the actual flight unit can be performed which is a major benefit to reliability. Over the past 4 years, LANL has conducted three HPS proof-of-concept technology demonstrations each has been highly successful. The Heatpipe-Operated Mars Exploration Reactor (HOMER) is a derivative of the HPS designed especially for producing electricity on the surface of Mars. The key attributes of the HOMER are described in this paper, as well as a 20-kWe point design system scalability, and the current technology status.