CSNR Summer Fellowships Program

2. Center for Space Nuclear Research Summer Fellowship Program Dr. Steven D. Howe Center Director - CSNR 8/1/2006

3. Universities Space Research Association (USRA) teamed with the Battelle Energy Alliance (BEA) on a bid to manage the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for the Department of Energy (DOE). USRA’s responsibility for the team was to establish the CSNR to be located in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Director on board 9/12/2005. Center for Space Nuclear Research

4. CSNR Goals Create opportunities for university researchers to collaborate with their counterparts at NASA, INL and other DOE Labs, and industry in projects and initiatives to advance nuclear technologies for space exploration and other space applications. Establish and conduct a multidisciplinary education program in studies of space nuclear systems and related scientific and technical areas that uses a mix of classroom and research activities to inspire students to enter math and science. Set up a public outreach program that creates and supports an awareness of the policies and public perceptions relating to the use of nuclear energy for space exploration and development.

5. CSNR Participation in NASA Planning Events Invitee to the NASA Strategic Planning Workshop, Nov. 05, NTR Panel Objective of the panel was to establish a business case for NASA to invest in NTR technology development Business cases were competed between Nuclear Thermal Rockets (NTR), Fission Surface Power (FSP), Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP), and Radioisotope Power Sources (RPS) Question was raised to NASA PA&E office (organizer) as to cost savings possible by using NTR for Lunar Outpost Invitee to the NASA Exploration Strategic Workshop 4/25/06- Brown team subgroup had the following recommendations: use the space station as a major component of the VSE Create the equivalent of the “trans-continental railroad” to the Moon Utilize commercial infrastructure and assets where possible Promote commercial enterprise on the Moon

6. 2006 CSNR Summer Fellowships Conceived in January 2006 Modified existing USRA software to allow on-line applications 112 applications received in 1 month window Review team at INL selected 14 candidates- 2 PhD, 5 MS, 7 undergrad from 6 states and the UK Three jobs: Lunar Outpost NTP study Cermet fabrication Risk/human factors analysis Arranged guest housing Rented classroom at ISU campus as office

7. Goals of the Fellowship Program Provide Student Fellows an in-depth understanding of nuclear propulsion and nuclear power technologies applied to space exploration Gain experience using complex computer codes that will be applicable to modeling nuclear systems Gain experience in front-edge experimental work and exploration trade studies Speaking and writing experience (weekly presentations by students) Exposure to NASA and DOE speakers and concepts.

8. Program Accomplishments attended a "nuclear engineering-101" course presented by Dr. Michael Houts of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center briefing by Marty Sattison (INL) on fundamentals of risk analysis briefing by Rafael Soto (INL) on methodologies for multi-parameter trade studies briefing by Tom Hill (INL) on ground testing full scale nuclear systems- NTR and FSP; briefing by James Werner (INL) on nuclear fuel fabrication; Briefing by Ron Boring (INL) on human factors studies attended a tutorial on using MCNP/MCNPX by Dr. Michael Houts for radiation transport and dose calculations Study Team: Identified and developed 20 tasks relating to two scenarios for supporting the Lunar Outpost; each Fellow has accepted one to three of the tasks to research for the group; the 20 tasks encompass two different scenarios for supporting the Outpost and each scenario has a number of different options Several discussions and briefings by Dr. Steven Howe on outcomes from NASA strategic planning meetings which he attended Weekly update meetings to monitor progress on tasks Student presentations to the entire group about work done at school (1-2 per week)

9. 2006 CSNR Summer Fellowships-mentored Kurt Vedros- Idaho State University (Curtis Smith) Supporting Marty Sattison's group in the PRA studies David Keller – New Mexico State University (Ron Boring) supporting Bruce Hallbert's group on human factors studies. Brandon Cunningham- Univ. of Florida (Randy Fielding), Jeff Perkins- Colorado School of Mines (Will Windes), Natasha Barra- UCLA (Dan Wachs) working with INL staff to create and fabricate Tungsten-Rhenium cermet samples using zirconium-oxide as a surrogate for uranium oxide. The fellows are also attempting to extrude the material to see if fuel elements can be formed. Ryan Johnson (Jon Carmack) working on building a hot-hydrogen test chamber to examine erosion of candidate fuel materials under operational conditions.

10. 2006 CSNR Summer Fellowships-Study Team John Bess- Univ. of Utah Masayuki Yano- Georgia Tech Melissa Ghrist – Texas A&M Paul Cummings – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Prescott) Rob O’Brien – Univ. of Leicester (UK) Emily Colvin – Georgia Tech Kevin Supak – Texas A&M examining the cost/benefit trade of using a nuclear rocket to support the construction of a Lunar Outpost, i.e. six astronauts on the lunar surface for six months

11. Goals of Mentored Students Support INL staff in PRA and human factors studies Assemble and refit hot hydrogen test stand Fabricate tungsten cermet samples and examine potential processing techniques Support Study Team with regards to issues involving materials, PRA or human factors as needed

12. Study Team Goals: Identify options for a Lunar Outpost Identify mission profile parameters and sensitivities Identify overarching operational issues Determine comparison between chemically propelled transfers and NTR transfers Investigate possible use of ISS to support architecture Identify major issues in development of NTR Identify NTR operational characteristics Where feasible, establish cost estimates of NTR development and cost savings from NTR use Identify future missions where NTR could provide benefits

13. Study Team: Mission Profile Tasks A: ESAS lander; characterize mass structural fraction, volume, tankage A: ESAS LEO to LLO; braking stage? Drop tanks? Mass, etc. A, B: Abort options for ESAS B: ISS characterization B: ISS garage option, changes required; life support, power, structure, personnel B: Current launch fleet to ISS characterization, mass, mass delivered/$, volume B: Delta V to ISS per launcher A, B: Options for post-flight D&D of NTR; land, HEO, helio, escape, lunar orbit A, B: Delta V from LEO to LLO; ISS or equatorial depart A, B: Launch window analysis A: NTR, same payload, LEO mass A: NTR, same LEO mass, payload B: Refueling issues B: Number and characteristics of engines B: number of transfers (1-3), number of descents (1-3), fraction of payload B: Garage assembly method; on site, launch B: intangible benefits; garage, ISS, international, commercial A, B: NTR intangibles; science, mars, NEO B: chemical transfer Thrust level of NTR engines

14. Study Team: NTR tasks Processing methods: elements, materials H2 manifolds: feed each element or common manifold MCNP core modeling: fuel type, dose maps, shielding, crew dose, thrust? Heat Transfer Model: core & nozzle, related to thrust; - elements Accident scenarios: launch (ground), launch (trans-lunar injection) Accident scenarios: transport & pre-launch assembly Accidents in ground testing - full scale, double walled? Security - 100kg HEU Diagnostics - what, how many, ranges - flight unit Zero power crit testing facility - needed? Where? How? Validate transport Fuel element question (Thermal cycling of fuel, hot H2 testing, DU and irradiated) Characterize readiness level of 'other' components of NTR (nozzle, pump, lifetime Pressure vessel options Shield, reflector control Test facilities - options (EMAD, test point, security, EIS) - SAFE, oceans, surface Fuel cost of HEU Ground control - autonomy of safe control (diagnostics and controls) Fuel characteristics (leakage; CTE, brittle, MP for C and W) Effluent wrap around (leakage) Startup sequence in zero-G

15. Future Goals of the CSNR Fellowship Program Participate in a NASA program for university led collaborations in advanced Fission Surface Power (FSP) for the Moon Facilitate collaborate between INL and major universities on pre-bachelors and graduate level projects Provide impetus and collaboration on INL LDRD projects Execute Summer Fellowship program in FY07 to examine FSP options for Moon and Mars Expand CSNR Fellowships to year round grants

16. Results of the Summer Study Scenario 1- Use of a NTR for orbit transfer from the ESAS orbit of 50 tons of mass for a Lunar Outpost Scenario 2- Use of a NTR for orbit transfer from the ISS to Lunar orbit of 50 tons of mass

17. Agenda “Mission Assumptions and Overview” Melissa Ghrist, Masa Yano “Using a NTR to augment ESAS architecture (Scenario 1) Paul Cummings “Use of Internationa Space Station (Scenario 2) Emily Colvin “Nuclear Thermal Propulsion: Testing the Technology” Rover/NERVA History Brandon Cunningham Tungsten cermet reactors John Bess Fuel Development and Processing Tungsten cermet as a viable fuel Jeff Perkins Sintering and joule heating Natasha Barra Component Testing Ryan Johnson Full System Testing Rob O’Brien “NTR Costs, Benefits, and Future Opportunities” Kevin Supak