CSNR - YPC 2009

1. Coordinating Space Nuclear Research Advancement and Education John Bess Idaho National Laboratory Jon Webb, Brian Gross, Aaron Craft Webb Gross Center for Space Nuclear Research ANS/YPC 2009 November 18, No ember 18 2009

2. History of the CSNR • Established October 2005 • Partnership – Battelle Energy Alliance – Universities Space Research Association A i ti – Idaho National Lab • USRA-Managed – Non-profit association of universities – Founded by the National Academy of Science • Science Council CSNR Director: – Comprised of academic and Dr. Steve Howe professional members – Oversees CSNR activities 2

3. Purpose of the CSNR • Support space nuclear research and educational needs of the U.S. DOE • INL’s primary conduit for collaborative research and educational activities with universities in space nuclear systems • Create opportunities for program participants: – Academic researchers and students – Government representatives from Go e e t ep ese tat es o national laboratories and other U.S. organizations – Representatives from corporate and industrial entities – International cooperative efforts 3

4. Challenges with Space Nuclear Development • Funding Restrictions • Lack of Political, Corporate, or Public Support • Limitations in Educational Opportunities • Loss of Early Space Nuclear Data, Skills, and Pioneers • Development and Maintenance of Trained Leadership 4

5. Educating the Summer Fellows • The Director oversees the summer project j t – Additional support provided by CSNR employees • Education augmentation – Access to the INL Technical Library – Invited professional lecturers • Computational workshops relevant to the project goals – MCNP™, ANSYS®, RELAP-3D™ • Opportunities for synergistic pp y g laboratory research – Tungsten-cermet fuel fabrication – Space nuclear systems applications – Risk analysis and human factors studies… 5

6. Additional Student Benefits • Develop personal skills and education d d ti • Establish networking connections • Experience the challenges and latest developments in the space nuclear field • Find mentors, committee members, p y and future employment • Participate in the next Summer Fellowship program or the Next Degree Program • Experience the many local and regional activities found around Idaho Falls and Eastern Idaho 6

7. The 2006 Summer Fellows 7

8. 2006 Summer Results • Augmentation of NASA Lunar • Use NTR to Enable Current Mission ith Mi i with NTR Launch Fleet L h Fl t – Increase Lunar Payload 36.2% – 4-6 Delta IV Heavy and/or Atlas V – or Decrease IMLEO 24.1% HLV for 20 tons to lunar surface – Requires In Orbit Assembly In-Orbit 8

10. 2007 Results • Lunar Isotope Power Source • Radioisotope Powered UAV – 2.5 kWe, 5 yr Life-Time – 7-36 month Operation – 244Cm, 238Pu, 90Sr, – 10-27 kWth or 232U – Propulsion and Radioisotope Trade – Trade Studies and Preconceptual Studies Ideas 10

12. 2008 Results • Unmanned Underwater Vehicle • Mobile Nuclear Outpost – Port Security – Enable Complete Lunar – SNM Ship Scanner Exploration Independence – Radioisotope Powered – Smart Shield Concept 12

14. 2009 Results • Comet Interception with • Fission Surface Power Nuclear Th N l Thermal Rockets lR k t Shielding St di Shi ldi Studies – Deflection or Destruction of Long- Period Comets – Delivery of Thermonuclear Devices – Not Feasible with Chemical Rockets 14

15. Where are they now? • Many are completing graduate engineering degrees • Others are currently employed – P & W Rocketdyne – South Texas Project – NASA JSC – Norfolk Naval Shipyard – Id h N ti Idaho National L b t l Laboratory – Engineering Consultant – Caterpillar – CSNR Next Degree Program 15

16. The Next Degree Program • Students working on an • Various research activities advanced degree in space d dd i – LEGO Reactor nuclear related research – Infrared Beam Reactor • Work part-time for various – Airbreathing Propulsion on Titan sponsored projects while d j t hil – W-Re Superalloy with SPS finishing their education – W-Cermet Fuel for a Fission • Participate in CSNR-sponsored, Surface Power System year-round activities year round activities, including – Frozen Pebble Bed Nuclear the Summer Fellowships Thermal Rocket • Paid to be an engineer while – Mars Hopper still working as a student 16

17. LEGO Reactor • Cluster reactor system design • Subcritical units • 5 kw/unit • <450 kg/unit (unshielded) • Designed using conventional nuclear components – HEU-O2 fuel – Stainless steel clad – Liquid sodium coolant 17

18. Infrared Beam (“Lightbulb”) Reactor ( Lightbulb ) Sun Lunar Habitat Thermophoto -voltaic Cell Mirror Reflectors Parabolic Mirror Lunar Reactor Regolith Reactor Sphere Support 18

19. Titan Explorer • Radioisotope powered • Long duration • Map the surface of Titan • Turboprop – low power demand p • Heated with 238Pu 19

20. W-Re Superalloy • High energy ball milling • SPS production samples • NTR and FSP applications – Used in ANL rocket program – Used in GE-710 program • High melting temperature – 3200 to 3600 K 20

21. W-Cermet Fuel for a FSP • NERVA graphite fuel element (left) (l ft) • Cast tungsten fuel element (right) – N machining required No hi i i d – Fabricated at nearly full theoretical density • Complete encapsulation of radioisotope material – Non-proliferation – Accident conditions – Assembly and handling safety – Self-shielding –R d Reduced material reactions d t i l ti 21

22. Frozen Pebble Bed Nuclear Thermal Rocket • Offers higher power density than prismatic fuel NTR • Frozen pebble bed eliminates frit design • FPB fuel element analog – Sintered tungsten BB’s form frozen p g pellets Pebble Bed Fuel Element FPB Fuel Element Analog 22

23. Mars Hopper • Radioisotope Thermal Rocket (RTR) t store energy and to t d “hop” a vehicle across the Martian surface – Science data collection from several regions and potentially a sample return mission – Pole-to-pole coverage in 2 years – Multiple hoppers could be operated by universities – PuO2 cermet in Be core – CO2 coolant l t – Essentially a NTR using decay heat 23

24. Conclusions • Provide Opportunities for Advancing Space N l S Nuclear Ed Education and Research ti dR h • Present Avenues for Funding Activities • Train and Develop Our Future Leaders p • Enable Space Exploration 24

25. Questions and Contact Info John Bess john.bess@inl.gov Jon Webb J W bb CSNR Director: jon.webb@inl.gov Brian Gross Dr. Steve Howe brian.gross@inl.gov brian gross@inl gov showe@csnr.usra.edu showe@csnr usra edu Aaron Craft www.csnr.usra.edu acraft@mines.edu 25

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27. Extra Slides 27

28. The CSNR Summer Fellows • Apply to participate in activities pertinent to objectives of the CSNR and sponsoring organizations • Function in an open-office setting for increased interaction and cooperation • Operate in smaller teams to address subtasks or alternative projects • Predominantly housed together in CSNR- subsidized housing to encourage strong team-building relationships 28

29. Milestones for the Fellows • Weekly formal meetings to address primary and secondary project goals • Weekly informal activities to contribute to a well-rounded educational experience • Students are expected to present at least once regarding personal research or experience • The final project results will be presented before employees and directors of INL di t f • Final reports are compiled into summaries that can be submitted to conferences 29

30. Funding Space Nuclear Research • Often the challenges associated with the promotion of space nuclear applications involve the slight d t il of money l li ti i l th li ht detail f • We continue to spend money using proven systems and measures that are becoming antiquated, and thus limit our ultimate space antiquated exploration potential, even when the benefits of space nuclear technology have calculated benefit 30

31. An Approach to Economics • CSNR provides an avenue for fielding designs and problems • Students – Often represent “cheap labor” – Have a zest to learn and work • Can potentially cost less to perform preliminary design and development activities by utilizing a captive researcher audience p • An educational atmosphere represents one of the last realms where pure engineering practices, and “tinkering”, can be experienced at a minimal cost 31

32. An Approach to Politics • Congressional policy and international treaty limitations can often deter the promotion of space nuclear research activities • Students are willing to – Learn the rules that guide our current protocol for space nuclear activities – Develop technologies capable of withstanding these rigorous requirements – Demonstrate the appropriate measures to overcome challenges and restrictions • Sometimes the question arises as to whether an idea should be investigated; students will perform the preliminary research and then let you know whether it t d t ill f th li i h d th l t k h th was a good idea or not 32

33. An Approach to Leadership • The CSNR offers access to some of the best and brightest students interested in space nuclear research • Sponsored projects – Allow for guided direction and participation throughout the course of the project – Increased cooperation on activities beyond the scope of the CSNR research activities • Graduate Research • Employment • University Relations 33

34. Student Fun and Adventures • Yellowstone National Park • Idaho Falls Model Rocketry Club • Weird Physics Meetings • Firefly Thursdays • And whatever else we can get into… g 34

35. The Home of CSNR • Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) – CSNR Offices and Meeting Rooms – S k Pl Spark Plasma Si t i (SPS) F Sintering Furnace – Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS) System – And whatever else we need for fabrication and analysis 35

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