Characteristics of Nuclear Spacecraft in Nano-Gravity for the Deep Space Explorer

Abstract

Nuclear power is investigated for its use in space travel beyond Mars' orbit. Considered from the aspects of economy and safety, two kinds of spacecraft are compared: radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG)-powered and photovoltaic-battery powered. Optimized mass for RTG spacecraft is obtained for measuring nuclear power expenditure in space, required for finding the break-even distance for RTG-powered compared to photovoltaic-battery–powered spacecraft. It is found that the lighter mass of the RTG system makes it the more economical of the two systems considered. The safety assessment of the RTG system also shows greater safety of operation where the nonlinear algorithm is described by the system dynamics algorithm. Therefore, it is concluded that, of the two systems, nuclear power in space holds the most promise for both safety and economy.