Priorities in space science enabled by nuclear power and propulsion / Committee on Priorities for Space Science Enabled by Nuclear Power and Propulsion, Space Studies Board, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, National Research Council of the National Academies.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Committee on Priorities for Space Science Enabled by Nuclear Power and Propulsion, Corporate Author.

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Priorities for Space Science Enabled by Nuclear Power and Propulsion.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Space vehicles--Nuclear power plants.

Space vehicles.

Space vehicles--Propulsion systems.

Space vehicles--Auxiliary power supply.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (159 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academies Press, c2006.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In 2003, NASA began an R&D effort to develop nuclear power and propulsion systems for solar system exploration. This activity, renamed Project Prometheus in 2004, was initiated because of the inherent limitations in photovoltaic and chemical propulsion systems in reaching many solar system objectives. To help determine appropriate missions for a nuclear power and propulsion capability, NASA asked the NRC for an independent assessment of potentially highly meritorious missions that may be enabled if space nuclear systems became operational. This report provides a series of space science objectives and missions that could be so enabled in the period beyond 2015 in the areas of astronomy and astrophysics, solar system exploration, and solar and space physics. It is based on but does not reprioritize the findings of previous NRC decadal surveys in those three areas.

Contents:

""Front Matter""; ""Preface""; ""Contents""; ""Executive Summary""; ""1 Introduction and Background""; ""2 Engineering and Technical Issues""; ""3 Applications of Nuclear Power and Propulsion in Solar and Space Physics: Background""; ""4 Applications of Nuclear Power and Propulsion in Solar and Space Physics: Missions""; ""5 Applications of Nuclear Power and Propulsion in Solar System Exploration: Background""; ""6 Applications of Nuclear Power and Propulsion in Solar System Exploration: Missions""; ""7 Applications of Nuclear Power and Propulsion in Astronomy and Astrophysics: Background""

""8 Applications of Nuclear Power and Propulsion in Astronomy and Astrophysics: Missions""""9 Findings and Recommendations""; ""Appendixes""; ""A Past U.S. Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Programs""; ""B The Interstellar Observatory""; ""C Additional Solar System Exploration Mission Concepts""; ""D Details of Selected Astronomy and Astrophysics Mission Concepts""; ""E Glossary, Acronyms, and Abbreviations""

Notes:

"Support for this project was provided by Contracts NASW 96013 and 01001 between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration"--T.p. verso.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9780309180108

0309180104

9780309653374

0309653371

OCLC:

923275190