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Space nuclear power & propulsion heritage of Hamilton Sundstrand Rocketdyne and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne

  • Cheng Yi Lu
  • , Michael Tosca
  • , Larry A. Trager
  • , W. R. Determan
  • , Gregory A. Johnson
  • , Andrew J. Zillmer
  • , Terry E. Dix

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Rocketdyne has a rich heritage in the development of space nuclear fission power and propulsion technologies through its involvement in most of the past U.S. space nuclear power reactor development programs such as SNAP-10A, SP-100, Multi-MegaWatt, S-PRIME thermionic, Solar Dynamic CBC Ground Demonstration System, Prometheus, JIMO, Fission Surface power systems and more recent work in the Sub-kilowatt Class Reactor EPS. Hamilton Sundstrand Rocketdyne's involvement in radioisotope power system (RPS) began with the development of the Dynamic Isotope Power System (DIPS) program in 1988 and continued on with the Advanced Stirling Converter development, Multi-Mission RTG development and Advanced RTG studies for the Advanced Thermoelectric Converter (ATEC) program. This experience spans more than 50 years in the design, system engineering, integration and testing of the space nuclear electrical power systems. In addition, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne designed the Phoebus nozzles and LH2 feed systems for the Rover Program and supported the Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application (NERVA) Program which demonstrated Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) technologies in the 1960s and 70s. In the 1990s, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, working with NASA, developed designs for a Bimodal Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (BNTR) unit for the joint production of electrical power and thrust from the single reactor unit.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2011, NETS-2011
Pages408-424
Number of pages17
StatePublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes
EventNuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2011, NETS-2011 - Albuquerque, NM, United States
Duration: Feb 7 2011Feb 10 2011

Publication series

NameNuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2011, NETS-2011

Conference

ConferenceNuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2011, NETS-2011
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAlbuquerque, NM
Period02/7/1102/10/11

Keywords

  • Bimodal
  • Nuclear fission
  • Nuclear thermal propulsion
  • SNAP
  • Space power

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