- 3869 - NUCLEAR ROCKETS - are they safe to go to the moon? Nuclear power presents transformative possibilities for space exploration and the innovative study we are conducting on this could help to propel our next generation of astronauts into space faster and for longer, significantly increasing our knowledge of the universe.
------ 3869 - NUCLEAR ROCKETS - are they safe to go to the moon?
- A Nuclear
Reactor could provide power on the Moon.
First, astronauts will be sent to the Moon for the first time since the
Apollo Era. Then followed by the
creation of permanent infrastructure that will allow them to say there for
extended periods.
-
- The first
crewed missions will be sent to Mars, with follow-up missions every 26 months,
culminating in the creation of surface habitats, a permanent base. To meet
these objectives, space agencies are investigating next-generation propulsion,
power, and life support systems.
-
- This
includes solar-electric propulsion (SEP), where solar energy is used to power
extremely fuel-efficient Hall-Effect thrusters.
They are looking into nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) and compact
nuclear reactors, allowing for shorter transit times and providing a steady
power supply for Lunar and Martian habitats.
-
-
Thermoelectric generators have been integral to long-range space
exploration for decades. The first missions to rely on them include the Viking
1 and 2 orbiters and landers that were the first to explore the surface of
Mars. The Voyager 1 and 2 probes,
currently in interstellar space, also relied on thermoelectric reactors that
allowed them to remain in operation for more than 45 years.
-
- In recent
decades, multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generators (MMRTG) have
enabled missions like the New Horizons probe and the Curiosity and Perseverance
rovers.
-
- In December
2021, Rolls-Royce signed a contract with the UKSA to study nuclear power
options for future space missions. The resulting technology will provide
propulsion and power systems for long-duration missions far from Earth, where
solar power is not always an option.
-
- During a
Martian year (which lasts 687 Earth days), the distance between Mars and the
Sun ranges from 1.38 to 1.66 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun.
As a result, Mars receives about half the energy Earth does, and seasonal dust
storms can lead to heavily-overcast skies that can play havoc with solar
panels.
-
- Some
examples include the Opportunity rover, which remained in continuous operation
on Mars for 15 years until a global dust storm in 2018 ended the mission. More
recently, the InSight lander ceased operations due to the build-up of dust on
its solar panels.
-
- Another
issue with sending crewed missions to Mars is the transit times involved. The
current mission architecture is to launch missions every 26 months to coincide
with Mars and Earth being at their closest points in their orbit ( a Mars
Opposition). Using conventional technology, these missions will take six months
to reach the Red Planet. During that time, the crews will be exposed to
elevated levels of solar and cosmic radiation and living in microgravity.
-
- Rolls-Royce
is developing a “micro-reactor” to enable nuclear propulsion and surface base
power. The concept was unveiled in October 2021. The system would be capable of providing
power in the “watts to megawatts” range, and the technology would have
applications in space and here at home.
-
- Alongside the
micro-reactor technology is the development of Radioisotope Power Systems, and
the space opportunities of converting ‘decay heat’ into electrical energy via
thermoelectric generators or moving parts.
-
- The Rolls-Royce Micro-Reactor is designed to use
an inherently safe and extremely robust fuel form. Each uranium particle is
encapsulated in multiple protective layers that act as a containment system,
allowing it to withstand extreme conditions.
-
- These
include reactors that would power surface habitats on the Moon and Mars and fast-transit nuclear spacecraft that will
explore beyond the Earth-Moon system and even beyond Mars. Other potential
applications include hypersonic space planes, small satellites, and on-orbit
assembly.
-
February 9, 2023 NUCLEAR
ROCKETS - safe to go to the moon? 3869
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----- Comments appreciated and Pass it on to
whomever is interested. ---
--- Some reviews are at: -------------- http://jdetrick.blogspot.com -----
-- email feedback, corrections, request for
copies or Index of all reviews
--- to: ------ jamesdetrick@comcast.net ------
“Jim Detrick” -----------
---------------------
--- Saturday, February 11, 2023 ---------------------------
-
No comments:
Post a Comment