SP-100 explained

SP-100 (Space reactor Prototype^[1]) was a U.S. research program for nuclear fission reactors usable as small fission power systems for spacecraft. It was started in 1983 by NASA, the US Department of Energy and other agencies.^[2]

A reactor was developed with heat pipes transporting the heat to thermoelectric generators. It was cooled with lithium.^[3] The project never advanced to flight hardware and was terminated in 1994.^[4]

See also

• Systems Nuclear Auxiliary Power Program and SNAP-10A, that flew in 1965
• Safe Affordable Fission Engine, a later project
• Kilopower, a later small space reactor

Notes and References

1. Acronyms: SP-100 means Space reactor prototype
2. SP-100, the US Space Nuclear Reactor Power Program, Technical information report. Available at Energy Citations Database
3. Book: Stănculescu, Adrian. The Role of Nuclear Power and Nuclear Propulsion in the Peaceful Exploration. International Atomic Energy Agency. Vienna. 2005. 21–22. 92-0-107404-2. 2009-02-24.
4. News: Mason. Lee . Sterling . Bailey . Ryan . Bechtel . John . Elliott . Jean-Pierre . Fleurial . Mike . Houts . Rick . Kapernick . Ron . Lipinski . Duncan . MacPherson . Tom . Moreno . Bill . Nesmith . Dave . Poston . Lou . Qualls . Ross . Radel . Abraham . Weitzberg . Jim . Werner . Small Fission Power System Feasibility Study — Final Report . 3 October 2015 . . 18 November 2010 . The SP-100 program objective was to develop the technologies needed for a broad range of space missions requiring a high power-to-weight ratio with nominal 100 kWe power output. The program began in 1982 and was terminated by Congress in 1994. A high temperature (1350 K) refractory alloy heat transport system with thermoelectric power conversion was designed, uranium nitride fuel was fabricated and irradiated to 6% burnup, and significant amounts of hardware and electronics were successfully tested..