"NASA's objective will be to use nuclear power much more frequently to open previously isolated areas of the solar system for robotic exploration as early as 2013, Aviation Week reports. NASA is moving quickly to make space nuclear power, and eventually nuclear propulsion, an inherent design element in near term, medium cost planetary missions."
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"NASA's objective will be to use nuclear power much more frequently to open previously isolated areas of the solar system for robotic exploration as early as 2013, Aviation Week reports. NASA is moving quickly to make space nuclear power, and eventually nuclear propulsion, an inherent design element in near term, medium cost planetary missions."
The article notes that progress in developing the new closed loop Stirling-cycle nuclear power cells being jointly developed by the Department of Energy and NASA, -- which are four times more powerful than current radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) used in space probes -- is facilitating this step.
I recognize that some will find this -- or any use of nuclear power -- to be a controversial decision. It is also clear that some critics will never be satisfied with the the safety of any nuclear power source regardless of where it is intended to be used. However, extensive testing of RTGs and long and successful experience with their use in space has shown these nuclear power sources to be extremely reliable and safe under even the most extreme circumstances.
I am very pleased that NASA has decided to take an aggressive step forward in the use of nuclear power in our space probes. Although I am a strong supporter of solar power, it is clear that we must equip our new deep planetary exploration probes with nuclear power sources to enable them to run more powerful -- and more capable -- instruments, computers, and communication devices that will require far more energy than solar cells can reliably provide as we move out further away from the sun. Improvements in the power and efficiency of these new RTG's, such as the Stirling cycle systems, should provide dramatic improvements in the power and efficiency of these systems allowing a wide range of robust capabilities to be added to our planetary exploration probes. This also ties in very nicely with the advances in Ion propulsion which have been made -- as demonstrated in the current Dawn Mission -- which could provide an ideal source of propulsion for planetary probes if coupled with an improved and reliable power source such as a Stirling Cycle system. Good move!
The next move needs to be action to renew funding for a fast track program to produce a workable nuclear propulsion suitable for manned missions and unmanned heavy cargo exploration support missions (e.g. supporting lunar bases or Mars exploration.) This is what we need give some serious oomph to our plans to explore and settle the Moon, Mars and destinations further out in the solar system. Once we get beyond the Earth/Moon system, conventional chemical rockets are simply not going to be good enough to permit us to safely and effectively expand the effective range of human exploration to Mars, or beyond, except for the one or two early landings. Even those would be much safer for the astronauts with faster and more flexible nuclear propulsion options. Certainly no serious long range human presence on Mars will be possible without this technology. This is the path we must travel if we are to succeed in becoming a space faring civilization.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/nukey.xml
http://esto.nasa.gov/conferences/nstc2007/presentations/D2P1.pdf
Article discussing the DOE and NASA collaboration in development of the Stirling Radioisotope Generator.
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