Author Topic: NASA Space Molten Salt Reactors for More Capable and Sustainable Exploration  (Read 2593 times)

Offline sheltonjr

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NASA Link: http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/strg/2012_nstrf_eades.html

NBF Link with other links included: http://nextbigfuture.com/2013/05/nasa-researching-100kw-4mw-and-60-mw.html

Quote
The proposed research will investigate how molten salt reactor technology can be used to power sub-100 kWe reactors for science missions and for MWe class reactors for human exploration. Both of these applications are cited as relevant to current US goals in space in NASAs Draft 2010 Space Power and Energy Storage Roadmap, and will greatly assist in space exploration. Specifically, sub-100 kWe reactors are a potential solution to the Pu-238 shortage, and molten salt reactor technology can address the issue of controlling small reactors. MWe class reactors require large amounts of fuel and benefit greatly from operating at high temperatures. A MWe molten salt reactor is capable at operating at high temperatures and would require less fuel than its traditional solid fuel counterpart.

I think this definitely needs to been done if we have any hope of being comfortable in space. Solar is good for the inner solar system but can provide only so much power.

MSR would be the ideal reactor for space applications.
1)Compact core
2)Self Regulating
3)High temperature for higher efficiency and better heat rejection
4)High burn up = Low fuel requirements
5)Add fuel while operating
6)Small heat exchangers
7)Long life, 10-20 years

Lots of power makes other challenges easier. ISRU, Life support, Propulsion, ...

Will anything become of this, or just more Pork being spread around with no real plans for real hardware producing real power.

Offline Archibald

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Better late than never  ;) I have a feeling Kirk Sorensen will love this. How about merging this with that thread ?
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=1139.480
Han shot first and Gwynne Shotwell !

Offline docmordrid

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53 tons limits launchers to Falcon Heavy or SLS
DM

Offline sheltonjr

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Better late than never  ;) I have a feeling Kirk Sorensen will love this. How about merging this with that thread ?
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=1139.480

I thought about adding it to his thread, But It includes NTR & BNTR and propulsion in general.

A common MSR core reactor and power generation equipment could be used almost anywhere. Space, Moon, Mars, Ceres. The biggest difference would be the radiator configurations if it can be designed to work in both a zero-g and partial-g environment.

How would I go about merging threads if it should be merged?

Offline scienceguy

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How would I go about merging threads if it should be merged?

The moderator does that
e^(pi*i) = -1

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