{"id":51377,"date":"2018-05-02T14:57:00","date_gmt":"2018-05-02T18:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-423686"},"modified":"2023-07-26T15:08:38","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T19:08:38","slug":"demonstration-proves-nuclear-fission-system-can-provide-space-exploration-power","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/demonstration-proves-nuclear-fission-system-can-provide-space-exploration-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Demonstration Proves Nuclear Fission System Can Provide Space Exploration Power"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Artist concept of new fission power system on the lunar surface.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg 6000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/kilopower_moon_render_1.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Artist concept of new fission power system on the lunar surface. <strong>Credits: NASA<\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>NASA and the Department of Energy\u2019s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) have successfully demonstrated a new nuclear reactor power system that could enable long-duration crewed missions to the Moon, Mars and destinations beyond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA announced the results of the demonstration, called the Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY) experiment,during a news conference Wednesday at its Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. The Kilopower experimentwas conducted at the NNSA\u2019s Nevada National Security Site from November 2017 through March. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSafe, efficient and plentiful energy will be the key to future robotic and human exploration,\u201d said Jim Reuter, NASA\u2019s acting associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) in Washington. \u201cI expect the Kilopower project to be an essential part of lunar and Mars power architectures as they evolve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/105_4792-dip.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1519\" height=\"1125\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/105_4792-dip.jpg?w=1519\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"NASA & NNSA engineers lower the wall of the vacuum chamber around the Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling TechnologY (KRUSTY system)\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/105_4792-dip.jpg 1519w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/105_4792-dip.jpg?resize=300,222 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/105_4792-dip.jpg?resize=768,569 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/105_4792-dip.jpg?resize=1024,758 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/105_4792-dip.jpg?resize=400,296 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/105_4792-dip.jpg?resize=600,444 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/105_4792-dip.jpg?resize=900,667 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/105_4792-dip.jpg?resize=1200,889 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1519px) 100vw, 1519px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA and NNSA engineers lower the wall of the vacuum chamber around the Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling TechnologY (KRUSTY system). The vacuum chamber is later evacuated to simulate the conditions of space when KRUSTY operates. <strong>Credits: Los Alamos National Laboratory<\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u200bKilopower is a small, lightweight fission power system capable of providing up to 10 kilowatts of electrical power \u2013 enough to run several average households \u2013 continuously for at least 10 years. Four Kilopower units would provide enough power to establish an outpost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Marc Gibson, lead Kilopower engineer at Glenn, the pioneering power system is ideal for the Moon, where power generation from sunlight is difficult because lunar nights are equivalent to 14 days on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cKilopower gives us the ability to do much higher power missions, and to explore the shadowed craters of the Moon,\u201d said Gibson. \u201cWhen we start sending astronauts for long stays on the Moon and to other planets, that\u2019s going to require a new class of power that we\u2019ve never needed before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The prototype power system uses a solid, cast uranium-235 reactor core, about the size of a paper towel roll. Passive sodium heat pipes transfer reactor heat to high-efficiency Stirling engines, which convert the heat to electricity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to David Poston, the chief reactor designer at NNSA\u2019s Los Alamos National Laboratory, the purpose of the recent experiment in Nevada was two-fold: to demonstrate that the system can create electricity with fission power, and to show the system is stable and safe no matter what environment it encounters. <br>\n\u201cWe threw everything we could at this reactor, in terms of nominal and off-normal operating scenarios and KRUSTY passed with flying colors,\u201d said Poston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kilopower team conducted the experiment in four phases. The first two phases, conducted without power, confirmed that each component of the system behaved as expected. During the third phase, the team increased power to heat the core incrementally before moving on to the final phase. The experiment culminated with a 28-hour, full-power test that simulated a mission, including reactor startup, ramp to full power, steady operation and shutdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout the experiment, the team simulated power reduction, failed engines and failed heat pipes, showing that the system could continue to operate and successfully handle multiple failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe put the system through its paces,\u201d said Gibson. \u201cWe understand the reactor very well, and this test proved that the system works the way we designed it to work. No matter what environment we expose it to, the reactor performs very well.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kilopower project is developing mission concepts and performing additional risk reduction activities to prepare for a possible future flight demonstration. The project will remain a part of the STMD\u2019s Game Changing Development program with the goal of transitioning to the Technology Demonstration Mission program in Fiscal Year 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/101_0202-dip.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1695\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/101_0202-dip.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling TechnologY (KRUSTY) control room during the full-power run\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/101_0202-dip.jpg 3627w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/101_0202-dip.jpg?resize=300,248 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/101_0202-dip.jpg?resize=768,636 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/101_0202-dip.jpg?resize=1024,848 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/101_0202-dip.jpg?resize=1536,1271 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/101_0202-dip.jpg?resize=2048,1695 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/101_0202-dip.jpg?resize=400,331 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/101_0202-dip.jpg?resize=600,497 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/101_0202-dip.jpg?resize=900,745 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/101_0202-dip.jpg?resize=1200,993 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/101_0202-dip.jpg?resize=2000,1655 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling TechnologY (KRUSTY) control room during the full-power run, Marc Gibson (GRC\/NASA) and David Poston (LANL\/NNSA) in foreground, Geordie McKenzie (LANL\/NNSA) and Joetta Goda (LANL\/NNSA) in background. <strong>Credits: Los Alamos National Laboratory<\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Such a demonstration could pave the way for future Kilopower systems that power human outposts on the Moon and Mars, including missions that rely on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/isru\">In-situ Resource <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/isru\">Utilization<\/a>to produce local propellants and other materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kilopower project is led by Glenn, in partnership with NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama,and NNSA, including its Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nevada National Security Site and Y-12 National Security Complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information about the Kilopower project, including images and video, visit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/spacetech\/kilopower\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information about NASA\u2019s investments in space technology, visit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"HGYJeLkqzM\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-detail\/spacetech\/\">spacetech<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"“spacetech” — NASA\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-detail\/spacetech\/embed\/#?secret=OJSEVMW4dW#?secret=HGYJeLkqzM\" data-secret=\"HGYJeLkqzM\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>-end-<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Gina Anderson<br \/>\nHeadquarters, Washington<br \/>\n202-358-1160<br \/>\ngina.n.anderson@nasa.gov<br \/>\nJan Wittry<br \/>\nGlenn Research Center, Cleveland<br \/>\n216-433-5466<br \/>\njan.m.wittry-1@nasa.gov<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA and the Department of Energy\u2019s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) have successfully demonstrated a new nuclear reactor power system that could enable long-duration crewed missions to the Moon, Mars and destinations beyond.  NASA announced the results of the demonstration, called the Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY) experiment,during a news conference Wednesday at its Glenn Research [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":54029,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"18-031","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"RELEASE","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[2856,2867],"news-tags":[12345],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Demonstration Proves Nuclear Fission System Can Provide Space Exploration Power","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/demonstration-proves-nuclear-fission-system-can-provide-space-exploration-power\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/demonstration-proves-nuclear-fission-system-can-provide-space-exploration-power\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/105_4792-dip.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/105_4792-dip.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"NASA"}],"creator":["NASA"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Centers & Facilities","NASA Headquarters","Glenn Research Center"],"dateCreated":"2018-05-02T18:57:00Z","datePublished":"2018-05-02T18:57:00Z","dateModified":"2023-07-26T19:08:38Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Demonstration Proves Nuclear Fission System Can Provide Space Exploration Power\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/demonstration-proves-nuclear-fission-system-can-provide-space-exploration-power\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/105_4792-dip.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2018-05-02T18:57:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities,NASA Headquarters,Glenn Research Center\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"NASA\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"featured_image":{"id":54029,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/105_4792-dip.jpg","title":"105_4792-dip","alt":"NASA & NNSA engineers lower the wall of the vacuum chamber around the Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling TechnologY (KRUSTY system)","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/51377"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-release"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/51377\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":370024,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/51377\/revisions\/370024"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51377"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=51377"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=51377"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=51377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}