Surface Power – PDRJohn Dankanich (2-13-01)

Dispersion Fueled 100 kWe Reactor

System Dimensions

Assumed 500 M from Routine Activity

Mass BreakdownSubsystem Weight Breakdown

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Heat Pipes Pow er Control Radiator Reactor Shield Structure TE Converter ThermalInsulation

Wire

We

igh

t (K

g)

Total Mass is Approximately 3,000 Kg.

Cost Analysis

Cost of Complete System: $750 Million

• Development

• Production

• Testing

Each additional unit $250 Million

• High Cost due to testing

Risk Assessment

Radiation: Over 500m Distance for routine crew activity

Radiation below acceptable occupational dosage

Failure: Single Failure Modes are Difficult to Eliminate

History - 3 Nuclear Incidents in 19 US missions

Transit-5BN-3, Nimbus, Apollo 13

Snap-10A Reactor Failure

Terrestrial Plant 1/17000 Reactor Years

Comparisons

Existing Space Power

• Heavier, Lower Shielding

Terrestrial

• Lighter, Smaller, Passive

DRM

• Lighter, Lower Power

Dr. Zubrin

• Comparable Mass, Comparable Power

Bottom Line

• Cost of $750 Million ($250 Million per additional unit)

• Reliability of 0.95 (0.98 after prototype)

• Power Output 100 kWe (115 capable)

• Lifetime of 5 years (7 max)

• Mass of 3 Tonnes

• Footprint of 13 m2