TY - GEN
T1 - Development of a nuclear-powered fully-mobile outpost for the lunar surface
AU - Craft, Aaron E.
AU - Sailer, Logan
AU - Henderson, Rick
AU - Glazener, Natasha
AU - Valentine, Josh
AU - Howe, Steve
AU - King, Jeffrey
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The US Space Exploration Policy calls for the return of humans to the lunar surface with the intention to later put humans on Mars. The current plan calls for up to ten sorties, which will place a lunar outpost somewhere on the lunar surface that will be able to house six humans for up to six weeks. One possible option is a completely mobile lunar outpost, powered by a nuclear reactor power system. A mobile nuclear reactor poses several unique challenges. A radiator is required that could be robust enough for transit and still provide the necessary heat rejection capabilities. Two possible radiator architectures are a deployable 11 m long by 4 m tall "accordion"-style radiator cart, and a 3 m wide, 4 m tall and 9 m long "Conestoga wagon"-style configuration. A radiation shield is necessary to protect humans and other vital components. A shield that provides protection over 360° and would not limit the movement of the astronauts is possible within the mass limit of 7400 kg using the "Smart Shield" concept, which pumps liquid shield material, such as borated water, into previously empty sections of the shield where protection is required. A shield configuration using borated water is possible within the launch/landing target mass of 10000 kg if the shielding material can be delivered to the reactor over two separate landing missions.
AB - The US Space Exploration Policy calls for the return of humans to the lunar surface with the intention to later put humans on Mars. The current plan calls for up to ten sorties, which will place a lunar outpost somewhere on the lunar surface that will be able to house six humans for up to six weeks. One possible option is a completely mobile lunar outpost, powered by a nuclear reactor power system. A mobile nuclear reactor poses several unique challenges. A radiator is required that could be robust enough for transit and still provide the necessary heat rejection capabilities. Two possible radiator architectures are a deployable 11 m long by 4 m tall "accordion"-style radiator cart, and a 3 m wide, 4 m tall and 9 m long "Conestoga wagon"-style configuration. A radiation shield is necessary to protect humans and other vital components. A shield that provides protection over 360° and would not limit the movement of the astronauts is possible within the mass limit of 7400 kg using the "Smart Shield" concept, which pumps liquid shield material, such as borated water, into previously empty sections of the shield where protection is required. A shield configuration using borated water is possible within the launch/landing target mass of 10000 kg if the shielding material can be delivered to the reactor over two separate landing missions.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/72949095626
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:72949095626
SN - 9781615673506
T3 - American Nuclear Society - 3rd Topical Meeting on Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2009, NETS 2009
SP - 174
EP - 182
BT - American Nuclear Society - 3rd Topical Meeting on Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2009, NETS 2009
T2 - 3rd Topical Meeting on Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2009, NETS 2009
Y2 - 14 June 2009 through 19 June 2009
ER -