Track 3: Space Nuclear Policy

Paper and Podium Presentation

AuthorsTitle
1J. Locke, B. LalEMERGENCE OF A COMMERCIAL SPACE NUCLEAR ENTERPRISE
2J. F. Zakrajsek, T. Sutliff, J. Hamley, C. Sandifer, P. Mccallum, T. Bishop, M. MccuneIMPLEMENTATION OF CROSS-AGENCY NUCLEAR APPLICATIONS
3P. MccallumIMPROVING THE NUCLEAR LAUNCH APPROVAL PROCESS; PROGRESS AND PLANS
4P. McclureKILOPOWER - MAXIMUM CREDIBLE DOSE FOR A CRITICALITY ACCIDENT
5P. McclureKILOPOWER - MAXIMUM CREDIBLE FISSIONS FOR A CRITICALITY ACCIDENT
6K. KowalNUCLEAR LAUNCH APPROVAL: OPTIONS FOR CRITERIA
7S. S. VossNUCLEAR SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR SPACE NUCLEAR POWER: A REVIEW OF PAST PROGRAMS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE CRITERIA
8S. V. Howieson, J. Behrens, K. M. KowalPOTENTIAL LAUNCH APPROVAL PROCESS FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE NUCLEAR SYSTEMS
9A. Camp, A. Klein, P. Mcclure, P. Mccallum, S. VossRECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NUCLEAR SAFETY AND LAUNCH APPROVAL PROCESS FOR FISSION REACTORS

Lightning Talk

AuthorsTitle
1W. Kowalski, V. ClarkASSESSMENT OF MISSION-CENTRIC TECHNICAL CRITERIA FOR SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE SPACE NUCLEAR LICENSING

Paper and Podium Presentation

EMERGENCE OF A COMMERCIAL SPACE NUCLEAR ENTERPRISE

J. Locke, B. Lal jlocke@ida.org
Space nuclear systems have historically been developed and operated solely by the government. Private entities have always played a role in developing and launching nuclear payloads, but the Federal government drove of development and operation of such systems with the private sector playing the role of a contractor. However, recent years have seen growing private sector interest in leading the development, launch, and use of nuclear technologies for space applications. This growth follows similar trends toward commercialization in the broader space sector. This paper summarizes research that included a survey of the literature and interviews with 12 companies related to the space nuclear industry. The paper presents a definition of commercial space activities, develops a model for space nuclear systems, and then explores the status of commercial space nuclear activities in the United States. Ultimately we assess that the private sector is interested in expanding their role in the space nuclear enterprise, but requires, among other changes, regulatory revision to become fully commercial.
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IMPLEMENTATION OF CROSS-AGENCY NUCLEAR APPLICATIONS

J. F. Zakrajsek, T. Sutliff, J. Hamley, C. Sandifer, P. Mccallum, T. Bishop, M. Mccune june.f.zakrajsek@nasa.gov
The Radioisotope Power System (RPS) Program was established in 2009 to manage RPS investments for NASA to ensure the availability of RPS for the exploration of the solar system in environments where conventional solar or chemical power generation is impractical or impossible. The RPS Program is a multi-centerand multi-agencyprogram. NASA is in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy to provide technologically robust nuclear power system solutions to robotic spacecraft and exploration missions. During the last decade, the RPS Program and DOE have supported missions, developed technologies and initiated new power system developments. These technical areas, as all technical areas, have challenges and standard engineering solutions; however, clearing the path to enable the technical work requires agreements to be established. This paper describes a process by which two governmental agencies have established a successful basis to accomplish the needed work.
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IMPROVING THE NUCLEAR LAUNCH APPROVAL PROCESS; PROGRESS AND PLANS

P. Mccallum peter.w.mccallum@nasa.gov
Launches involving radioisotope power systems (RPS) or radioisotope heater units (RHUs) must comply with a number of different statutory, regulatory, and administrative requirements. While some of these are well defined, others have been carried out on the basis of past practice rather than a set of formal standards. In addition, some of the requirements reference outdated standards and are in need of updates. The overall process is also time consuming and expensive. This paper describes efforts by NASA, the Department of Energy (DOE) and others to make improvements to the process while maintaining safety and environmental protection.or full papers, please enter your abstract here (250 words or less). For lightning talks, ignore this field.
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KILOPOWER - MAXIMUM CREDIBLE DOSE FOR A CRITICALITY ACCIDENT

P. Mcclure pmcclure@lanl.gov
Inadvertent criticality is one end state for a space reactor launch accident. If a criticality were to occur, then consequences of this event must be estimated. This paper uses an estimate for the number fissions combined with estimates of release from historic space reactor criticality tests to estimate the dose to receptors at 100 m and 1000 m.
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KILOPOWER - MAXIMUM CREDIBLE FISSIONS FOR A CRITICALITY ACCIDENT

P. Mcclure pmcclure@lanl.gov
Inadvertent criticality is one end state for a space reactor launch accident. If a criticality were to occur, then consequences of this event must be estimated. The first step in estimating consequences is to estimate the source term, which is a function of the number of fissions that have occurred during the criticality. This paper presents a bounding estimate for the number of fissions for a Kilopower space reactor criticality accident based upon values for all historic criticality accidents to date.
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NUCLEAR LAUNCH APPROVAL: OPTIONS FOR CRITERIA

K. Kowal kkowal@ida.org
Space nuclear systems can be a key source of power and propulsion for many space exploration and science missions. The viability of space nuclear applications would benefit from a regulatory regime that is clear, cost effective, timely, and able to integrate safety into the entire lifecycle of a space nuclear system. Criteria for the safety of launching nuclear systems would inform the approval process and provide further accountability to the public that safety is being sufficiently considered. A framework is described, which can inform criteria for the nuclear launch approval process, and is focused on leveraging the established processes used by other agencies for transportation and use of nuclear materials on Earth to inform the development of a clear, transparent and predictable launch approval process for space nuclear systems. Findings include the potential for a multi-tiered approach to nuclear launch approval that is based on the material being launched, the system that contains the material, and a comparison to previously launched systems.
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NUCLEAR SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR SPACE NUCLEAR POWER: A REVIEW OF PAST PROGRAMS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE CRITERIA

S. S. Voss svoss@gnnallc.com
Nuclear security plays an integral role in the design and mission planning for the proposed use of high enriched uranium (HEU) in small, compact power systems for space. Nuclear security issues have taken on great importance within the United States (US) and internationally since the early 1990s with the end of the Soviet Union resulting in excess weapons usable nuclear materials (NM) and the rise of international terrorism. As a result, US leadership has made nuclear security and the reduction in the use of weapons-usable materials a high national priority. For some missions, the use of HEU in space nuclear reactors and rockets may be enabling for future space missions. I examine whether or not the use of HEU can be justified based upon US Presidential policy. I also examine the unique challenge that space nuclear reactors present in establishing safety and security requirements. A review of past US and Russian nuclear security and safety guidelines for space nuclear power provides insights into what has worked in the past and how it may be applied in the future.
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POTENTIAL LAUNCH APPROVAL PROCESS FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE NUCLEAR SYSTEMS

S. V. Howieson, J. Behrens, K. M. Kowal showieso@ida.org
The current launch approval process for any space nuclear system has only been used for government launches, but there has been increasing interest by commercial entities to use space nuclear systems. To inform the identification of options to develop a launch approval process for commercial entities, we review the existing legal framework and launch approval process for government launches using nuclear systems and commercial launches with non-nuclear systems. We then discuss potential launch approval processes and implications for two different commercial space nuclear launch scenarios. We conclude by presenting the unresolved issues regarding commercial space nuclear launch approval, and recommend Congress establish a comprehensive approval framework.
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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NUCLEAR SAFETY AND LAUNCH APPROVAL PROCESS FOR FISSION REACTORS

A. Camp, A. Klein, P. Mcclure, P. Mccallum, S. Voss acamp32@comcast.net
NASAs Nuclear Power & Propulsion Technical Discipline Team has chartered a study of potential improvements to the nuclear safety and launch approval process. The study concurs with previous efforts that have identified excess duplication, complexity and uncertainty in the current approval process. With a focus on fission reactors, general design criteria and safety criteria are proposed that ensure public and environmental safety, while reducing the uncertainty and complexity in the review and approval process. These criteria take into account the long history of space reactor development and related government standards for nuclear safety. Also, recommendations are made for changes in organizational responsibilities to clarify roles and reduce duplication.
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Lightning Talk

ASSESSMENT OF MISSION-CENTRIC TECHNICAL CRITERIA FOR SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE SPACE NUCLEAR LICENSING

W. Kowalski, V. Clark william@atomosnuclear.com
The policy of the United States for nuclear power sources in space is to ensure that there is no undue risk of release of radioactive material. Using the historic SP-100 space nuclear reactor power system technology program, we reviewed safety requirements encompassing spacecraft and mission design to assess deviation from and additional specificity needed to create a modern, commercial perspective to safety with regard to nuclear power systems in space. We found that spacecraft and operational design criteria yield a more sustainable safety process than a reactor-focused approach.
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