Project Prometheus
The Prometheus Project is a company founded in 2003 NASA program for the use of nuclear energy for interplanetary space travel. Objectives of this project are the development of existing radioisotope generators ( RTG) as well as the development of a nuclear reactor for use in interplanetary space probes. Linked to this is an exploration of improved technologies for energy conversion. The use of nuclear- generated power in electric drives is the third area of this program. NASA is cooperating in the nuclear parts of the program with the U.S. Department of Energy, especially with the field of nuclear reactors for the Navy (Office of Naval Reactors ).
Financing
In the financial year 2005 ( commencing 1 October of the previous year ), the Prometheus project had a budget of $ 270.3 million. For the financial year 2006, the funds were reduced to $ 75.7 million. This was due to rearrangements in other programs, especially in the development of the Orion spacecraft. From 2007 to 2011 amounts from 9.5 to 9.9 Mio. dollars each annually provided. 2006 is the nuclear research program of NASA be reviewed to assess how and when new programs or projects could be initiated.
Objectives
As part of the program are more efficient and better adaptable to different mission requirements radionuclide ( RTG) are designed with a power of about 120 W of electrical energy. The components for thermoelectric energy conversion should be improved to as well as new technologies such as thermovoltaische or dynamic ( Stirling ) Energy transformations to be developed. Also the purchase of up to 30 kg of plutonium -238 from Russia was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy at the start of the project in 2003, which should investigate the possibilities for the production of plutonium -238 within the USA at the same time. These new RTGs should be prepared according to these plans by 2008. This would be the first inserts the Mars Science Laboratory, Mars Scout 2 or New Frontiers missions into consideration.
The requirements for the intended nuclear reactor ranged from a few tens of kW to hundreds of kW of electric power. As an energy conversion technologies should Brayton converter are developed Rankine converter and thermoelectric method. Also part of the Prometheus project is the development of electric drives, which should have a capacity of 20-50 kW and up to 250 kW. The first nuclear reactor, which was planned for the canceled in the fall of 2005 JIMO Mission ( Prometheus 1), the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory should develop.
In mid-2005 it was announced that the Bush administration wants to resume the production of plutonium 238. " The real reason we start the production, is the national security," Timothy A. Frazier was quoted by the U.S. Department of Energy. Plutonium 238 is used as fuel in batteries for space systems (see Space Weapon).
The production of new plutonium -238 should not be resumed before 2013 in the Idaho National Laboratory. The NASA stood them annually a maximum of 2.5 kg. Also in 2013 should be further developed, four times more efficient RTGs ready.
Review
Already in 1965, launched U.S. satellite snapshot (SNAP -10A ) equipped with an experimental nuclear reactor, as well as the Soviet RORSAT military satellites of the 1970s and 80s. The late 80s, two Russian satellites were ( Cosmos 1818 and 1867) equipped with type reactors TOPAZ who submitted 5-10 kW of electrical power at 320 kg mass and contained 12 kg of uranium -235. The American reactor type SP -100 ( Space Power 100) could achieve an electrical output of up to 100 kW with adequate shielding at a weight of 5422 kg (for comparison: the three RTGs the Cassini spacecraft reached 888 W at 168 kg the starting weight of the probe was 5712 kg, a Delta IV Heavy can be up to 8 tonnes of payload on an interplanetary mission transported ).
Since the 1960s there have been projects that dealt with nuclear energy in space and nuclear thermal engines. In the U.S., for example, were the NERVA project, which was canceled in 1972, the Clinch River reactor (Project 1982 adjusted ), which was initiated in the context of SDI 1985 multi-megawatt program with the resulting previous project Timber Wind, and plans within the Space Exploration Initiative the early 1990s. In the USSR nuclear reactors as bouk or TOPAZ and nuclear - thermal actuators have been developed since the 1950s.
(see also: gas core reactor )
View
Despite low budgeting of the Prometheus project until 2011, the development of nuclear systems for future space missions, NASA is part of strategic planning:
Nuclear thermal propulsion systems offer a promising technological approach for providing a high -thrust, high-efficiency departure stage to transport astronauts to future destinations while reducing spacecraft mass.
" Thermonuclear drive systems offer a promising technological approach to providing a high accelerating, highly effective start level for the transport of astronauts on future goals, while at the same spacecraft mass is reduced. "
Nuclear system likely will play in important role in power systems capabilities beyond 2016. Deployment and utilization of nuclear systems on the Moon Could Directly enable scientific and human exploration of the Moon and operational understanding of the requirements of the synthesis system for eventual exploration on Mars.
On the future of the Prometheus program NASA director Griffin wrote in November 2005: (...) surface nuclear power systems to support potential long -duration stays on the Moon will not be required until after 2018 Nuclear propulsion will not be required until planning. for Mars missions begins in earnest. (...) NASA wants to continue a low level of funding for key, high-priority, system- nuclear R & T issues, with longer- term plans to increase enlarge funding in the future, as the need for long duration lunar and Mars applications Approaches.
From financial year 2007, the project Prometheus Nuclear Systems & Technology is a component within the Exploration Systems Research and Technology Program of the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate ( ESMD ).