Surface Power – CDR John Dankanich – March 6, 2001
Power Requirement Propellant Production Cryogenic storage – 265 W / Tonne (Approximately 30 kWe)* Life Support etc. – Operating Simultaneously * US Department of Energy
Size of Reactor Why sized the way it is? • Minimum Core dimension 0.6m Diameter • Need room for reflector and shield • Deployable Radiators need Surface Area • Smallest Possible dimension approximately 1 m3 excluding Power converter with mass of approximately 25 tonnes!
Power from NTR Power Conversion (Brayton Cycle) 30 kg / kW 2 engines producing 25 kWe each = 1.5 Tonnes
Construction of Power Cable • Helical to allow for stretch • Redundant wiring
Cable Specifications 2 Strands 2 Gauge Wire (D = 6.54 mm) 298.978 kg/km* Length of 330 Meters (Wound to 324 m) Mass of Approximately 200 kg Insulation foam Mass of Approximately 50 kg Covering Mass of Approximately 100 kg Total Mass of 350 kg *http://www.mogami.com/e/cad/wire-gauge.html
Modes of Failure • Excessive Tension • Micrometeorites • Power Surge • NTR Failure • Deployment
Summary How important is the additional redundancy? • Mass of 1850 kg • Reliability 0.99* • No Development • Minimal Construction Costs Therefore primarily cost is launch $200 million dollars Based in increased risk of mission*