Distinctive Features of a Technical Layout of the Space Vehicles with Nuclear Power Plants Onboard in the Performance of Global Problems of Modern Age

Paper number

IAC-15,D2,3,2,x28408

Author

Dr. Mykola M. Slyunyaev, Yuzhnoye State Design Office, Ukraine

Coauthor

Dr. Oleg Ventskovsky, Yuzhnoye SDO European Representation, Belgium

Year

2015

Abstract

In the paper, options of the space vehicles with nuclear power plants onboard are considered. Nuclear power plants produce electrical energy which is supplied to the onboard thrusters, predominantly magnetoplasma ones. The nuclear power plant is pressurised, there are no radioactive products leaking the plant’s casing.  The magnetoplasma thruster’s jet consists of ions which could not be radioactive. 
To the transfer orbit where ignition of the magnetoplasma thruster takes place, the space vehicles are delivered by launchers equipped with chemical engines with non-radioactive propellants. 
The paper presents distinctive features of a technical layout of the space vehicles with nuclear power plant onboard, due to which:
- in case of a manned flight to Mars, the mission duration is cut to the extent that astronauts could reliably survive the external radioactive radiation;
- in case of a space module to clean the near-Earth space from space debris, one achieves an increase of the useful onboard power not only for making flight trajectories, but also for power supply of onboard devices impacting space debris (e.g. onboard lasers).
Besides, the nuclear power plant is necessary for deep space flights to the boarders of the Solar system, as well as in the perspective – for the anti-asteroid protection of the Earth.

Abstract document

IAC-15,D2,3,2,x28408.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-15,D2,3,2,x28408.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.