Advanced power sources for space missions / Committee on Advanced Space Based High Power Technologies, Energy Engineering Board, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Advanced Space Based High Power Technologies.

Contributor:

Gavin, Joseph G.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

High technology.

Space vehicles--Nuclear power plants.

Space vehicles.

Space vehicles--Auxiliary power supply.

Space vehicles--Propulsion systems.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (154 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1989.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"Star Wars"--as the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) is dubbed--will require reliable sources of immense amounts of energy to power such advanced weapons as lasers and particle beams. Are such power sources available? This study says no, not yet--and points the way toward the kind of energy research and development that is needed to power SDI. Advanced Power Sources for Space Missions presents a comprehensive and objective view of SDI's unprecedented power requirements and the opportunities we have to meet them in a cost-effective manner.

Contents:

Advanced Power Sources for Space Missions

Copyright

Preface

Contents

Executive Summary

1 Introduction

2 Space Power Requirements and Selection Criteria

OVERVIEW OF SPACE-BASED POWER REQUIREMENTS

SDI Power Requirements for Housekeeping, Alert, and Burst Modes

Requirements of Military Missions Other than SDI

Requirements of Civil Missions

Commonality of Requirements Among Civil and Military Missions

APPROACHES TOWARD SELECTING SPACE POWER TECHNOLOGIES TO MEET SDI REQUIREMENTS

Critical Issue Areas

System Considerations

Qualification of Power-Conditioning Subsystems and Components

Influence of SDI Survivability and Vulnerability Criteria

Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendation

3 Space Power System Options and Selection Constraints

SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE SPACE POWER SYSTEM OPTIONS

Nonnuclear Power for Orbital Use

Photovoltaic Space Power Systems

Solar-Dynamic Power

Chemical Space Power Systems

Magnetohydrodynamic Space Power Systems

Nuclear Power for Use in Space

Nuclear Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Considerations

Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators

Dynamic Isotope Power Sources

SP-100 Space Nuclear Reactor System

Smaller Nuclear Space Reactor Systems

Multimegawatt Nuclear Space Reactor System Designs

Other Advanced Nuclear Systems

Finding, Conclusion, and Recommendation

Ground-Based Power Beamed to Orbit

Finding and Recommendation

Co-Orbiting Power Sources

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS INFLUENCING THE SELECTION OF SPACE POWER SYSTEMS

The Natural Space Environment

Orbital Environmental Impacts

Conclusion and Recommendation

4 Needed Technological Advances in Space Power Subsystems to Meet SDI Requirements

IMPLICATIONS OF SDI SPACE POWER ARCHITECTURE SYSTEM STUDIES FOR ADVANCES NEEDED IN POWER SUBSYSTEMS.

ADVANCES NEEDED IN HIGH-TEMPERATURE STRUCTURAL MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY

ADVANCES NEEDED IN POWER-CONDITIONING AND PULSE-GENERATING TECHNOLOGIES

Superconducting Materials

Component Technology

FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATION

5 Approaches Toward Achieving Advances in Critical Power Technologies

ADVANCING THERMAL-MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES

Heat-Rejection Considerations

Survivability Considerations

ADVANCING POWER-CONDITIONING COMPONENTS AND TECHNOLOGIES

Advancing the Design of Conductors

Normal Conductors

Superconductors

Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage

ADVANCEMENT POTENTIAL OF TECHNOLOGY FOR DYNAMIC POWER-CONVERSION CYCLES

Advancement Potential for Alternator Technology

Advancing the State of the Art in Power System Components

MATERIALS ADVANCES REQUIRED FOR THE EVOLVING SPACE POWER TECHNOLOGIES

Magnetic Materials

Insulators

High-Temperature Structural Materials

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

6 Commentaries on the SDI Power Program

COMMENTARY ON SDI SPACECRAFT SYSTEM NEEDS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON THE SPACE POWER SYSTEM

COMMENTARY ON SDI PROGRAM ISSUES

REVIEW OF THE SDI SPACE POWER PROGRAM

COMMENTARY ON THE SDI SPACE POWER INVESTMENT STRATEGY

FINDING, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

References

Appendix A Glossary of Abbreviations

Appendix B Biographical Sketches

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

ENERGY ENGINEERING BOARD LIAISON

TECHNICAL ADVISOR

STUDY DIRECTOR

Appendix C Study Chronology (Meetings, Briefings, and Site Visits)

MEETING, APRIL 21-22, 1987, WASHINGTON, D.C., NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

MEETING, JUNE 25-26, 1987, NASA LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER, CLEVELAND, OHIO

MEETING, JULY 20-21, 1987, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

MEETING, AUGUST 25-26, 1987, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

MEETING, OCTOBER 19-20, 1987, NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, WASHINGTON, D.C.

MEETING, NOVEMBER 17-18, 1987, NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES WASHINGTON, D.C.

MEETING, JANUARY 21-22, 1988, NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, WASHINGTON, D.C.

Appendix D Possible Impacts of Effluents from SDI Systems

SPACE SHUTTLE EXPERIENCE RELEVANT TO POSSIBLE IMPACTS OF EFFLUENTS PROJECTED FOR SDI SYSTEMS

ESTIMATION OF THE IMPACT OF EFFLUENT ON PROPAGATION OF A NEUTRAL-PARTICLE BEAM

Appendix E Compilation of Study Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations

FINDINGS

CONCLUSIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS

Index.

Notes:

Includes index.

Committee chairman: Joseph G. Gavin.

Bibliography: p.101-103.

ISBN:

9786610214396

9781280214394

1280214392

9780309594868

0309594863

9780585085272

0585085277

OCLC:

70772988