TY - GEN
T1 - SNAP-10A safety test program
AU - Determan, W. R.
AU - Johnson, Gregory A.
AU - Zillmer, Andrew J.
AU - Dix, Terry E.
AU - Lu, Cheng Yi
AU - Tosca, Michael
AU - Trager, Larry A.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - The Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) program was sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), now DOE, from 1956 to 1973. Both radioisotope and nuclear reactor heat sources were developed during this program to support nuclear electric power sources for remote terrestrial and in-space power applications. Projects using radioisotope heat sources were odd-numbered (i.e., SNAP-3, SNAP-9, etc.), while projects using fission reactor heat sources were even numbered (i.e., SNAP-2, SNAP-4, SNAP-10A). Each type of nuclear heat source had its own radiological safety program to the support the development of the power unit. The SNAP-10A nuclear power unit (or NPU) was a 500 W, 1-year life, spacecraft power source which used a nuclear reactor heat source with a silicon-germanium (SiGe) thermoelectric power converter module. An on-board shunt regulator controlled output voltage level to the spacecraft bus. Because the SNAP-10A NPU would be the first nuclear reactor to be launched into orbit by the United States, a comprehensive set of tests were devised and performed to establish the safety criteria and validate the design in various hazardous environments it could be exposed to throughout its mission profile. These test results and their impact on changes to the U.S. space nuclear safety criteria, employed for today's launches of nuclear power sources, will be reviewed. Additionally, the factory-to-flight sequence envisioned during the SNAP-10A program will be reviewed with respect to the safety approach at each step of the NPU preparation for its flight test.
AB - The Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) program was sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), now DOE, from 1956 to 1973. Both radioisotope and nuclear reactor heat sources were developed during this program to support nuclear electric power sources for remote terrestrial and in-space power applications. Projects using radioisotope heat sources were odd-numbered (i.e., SNAP-3, SNAP-9, etc.), while projects using fission reactor heat sources were even numbered (i.e., SNAP-2, SNAP-4, SNAP-10A). Each type of nuclear heat source had its own radiological safety program to the support the development of the power unit. The SNAP-10A nuclear power unit (or NPU) was a 500 W, 1-year life, spacecraft power source which used a nuclear reactor heat source with a silicon-germanium (SiGe) thermoelectric power converter module. An on-board shunt regulator controlled output voltage level to the spacecraft bus. Because the SNAP-10A NPU would be the first nuclear reactor to be launched into orbit by the United States, a comprehensive set of tests were devised and performed to establish the safety criteria and validate the design in various hazardous environments it could be exposed to throughout its mission profile. These test results and their impact on changes to the U.S. space nuclear safety criteria, employed for today's launches of nuclear power sources, will be reviewed. Additionally, the factory-to-flight sequence envisioned during the SNAP-10A program will be reviewed with respect to the safety approach at each step of the NPU preparation for its flight test.
KW - Acceptance test
KW - Flight test
KW - Nuclear safety
KW - Space reactor
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/79960861299
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:79960861299
SN - 9781617828461
T3 - Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2011, NETS-2011
SP - 369
EP - 381
BT - Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2011, NETS-2011
T2 - Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2011, NETS-2011
Y2 - 7 February 2011 through 10 February 2011
ER -