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Radioisotope Power Systems An Imperative for Maintaining U.S. Leadership in Space Exploration (2009) / Chapter Skim
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2 Background
Pages 7-13

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From page 7...
... . At Jupiter, sunlight is 96 percent Through an investment of considerable resources -- For example, the Juno mission to Jupiter will be powered by solar arrays, e ­ ngineering and scientific knowledge, human capital, and but it will be in a highly elliptical polar orbit; it will not orbit near the Jovian public funds -- the United States has gained undisputed equatorial plane where the most intense portions of the belts are located. leader­ship in the exploration of the solar system.
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From page 8...
... , establishes comprehensive requirements as well as the dimly lit outer reaches of the solar system and regarding the possession, use, and production of nuclear A specific example is a solar probe mission using Jupiter for a gravity The Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) -3 Program used both assist in order to pass the Sun in an orbit highly inclined to the plane of the polonium-210 and plutonium-238 as nuclear fuel for RTGs during ground ecliptic.
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From page 9...
... of RPSs Mission Type Launch Date Location Transit 4A SNAP-3B7 1 Navigational 06/29/1961 Currently in orbit Transit 4B SNAP-3B8 1 Navigational 11/15/1961 Currently in orbit Transit 5BN-1 SNAP-9A 1 Navigational 09/28/1963 Currently in orbit Transit 5BN-2 SNAP-9A 1 Navigational 12/05/1963 Currently in orbit Transit 5BN-3 SNAP-9A 1 Navigational 04/12/1964 Reentered; burned up Nimbus B-1 SNAP-19B2 2 Meteorological 05/18/1968 Aborted; retrieved Nimbus III SNAP-19B3 2 Meteorological 04/14/1969 Currently in orbit Apollo 12 SNAP-27 1 Lunar/ALSEP 11/14/1969 On lunar surface Apollo 13 SNAP-27 1 Lunar/ALSEP 04/11/1970 Reentered in South Pacific Apollo 14 SNAP-27 1 Lunar/ALSEP 01/31/1971 On lunar surface Apollo 15 SNAP-27 1 Lunar/ALSEP 07/26/1971 On lunar surface Pioneer 10 SNAP-19 4 Planetary/Sun escape 03/02/1972 Heliosheath Apollo 16 SNAP-27 1 Lunar/ALSEP 04/16/1972 On lunar surface Triad-01-1X Transit-RTG 1 Navigational 09/02/1972 Currently in orbit Apollo 17 SNAP-27 1 Lunar/ALSEP 12/07/1972 On lunar surface Pioneer 11 SNAP-19 4 Planetary/Sun escape 04/05/1973 Heliosheath Viking 1 SNAP-19 2 Mars Lander 08/20/1975 On martian surface Viking 2 SNAP-19 2 Mars Lander 09/09/1975 On martian surface LES 8, LES 9 MHW-RTG 2, 2 Communication 03/14/1976 Currently in orbit Voyager 2 MHW-RTG 3 Planetary/Sun escape 08/20/1977 Heliosheath Voyager 1 MHW-RTG 3 Planetary/Sun escape 09/05/1977 Heliosheath Galileo GPHS-RTG 2 Planetary (Jupiter) 10/18/1989 Intentionally deorbited into Jupiter Ulysses GPHS-RTG 1 Solar and space physics 10/06/1990 Heliocentric, polar orbit Cassini GPHS-RTG 3 Planetary (Saturn)
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From page 10...
... Determine the inventory and dynamics of objects that may pose an impact hazard to Earth Inventory and characterize planetary resources that can sustain and protect human explorers Science Contribution RPS Dependence Major return Not possible without RPS Secondary return RPS use enhances science return NOTE: ATHLETE, All-Terrain Hex-Legged Extra-Terrestrial Explorer (rover) ; CSSR, Comet Surface Sample Return; EAL, Europa Astrobiology Lander; EE, Europa Explorer; GO, Ganymede Observer; ILN, International Lunar Network; IO, Io Observer; MSL, Mars Science Laboratory; MSR, Mars Sample Return; NTE, Neptune-Triton Explorer; PR, Pressurized Rover; SB, small bodies; S/M NET, seismological/meteorological network science; SPABSR, South Pole-Aitken Basin Sample Return; TE, Titan/Enceladus Explorer; VISE, Venus In-Situ Explorer; VME, Venus Mobile Explorer.
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From page 11...
... NASA provides the DOE with overall system require- Safety is an integral part of any nuclear system, and it ments, specifications, schedules, and interfaces; provides encompasses the entire system life cycle. Nuclear safety for data to support DOE safety analyses in accordance with RPSs encompasses design, development, assembly, checkNEPA; supports nuclear launch approval (e.g., launch- out, testing, handling, transport, storage, ground checkout, vehicle databooks)
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From page 12...
... During this launch, does, both reports are provided to the director of the Office of range safety destruct of the launch vehicle and upper stage Science and Technology Policy (within the Executive Office was initiated by the range safety officer because the launch of the President) , who may grant launch approval, deny vehicle was ascending erratically.
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From page 13...
... U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.
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Key Terms

  • launch approval
  • approval process
  • nuclear safety
  • radioisotope power
  • lunar surface

  • flight safety
  • launch vehicle
  • solar power
  • safety review
  • orbit transit

  • credible accident
  • nuclear launch
  • nuclear auxiliary
  • nuclear regulatory
  • space science

  • safety analysis
  • power reactors
  • nasa administrator
  • energy conversion
  • sample return

  • accident scenarios
  • policy act
  • rps nuclear
  • nuclear fuel
  • nuclear facilities

  • space exploration
  • space policy
  • develop space
  • space missions
  • rps fuel


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