Using thermoelectric nuclear power generators in spacecraft power-generation propulsion complexes

Power-generation and propulsion complexes for spacecraft, universal space platforms (US) which combine a power unit and high- and low-thrust propulsion unions, make it possible to efficiently solve problems involved in creating satellite communication systems, environmental monitoring systems, industrial technology platforms, interorbital shuttles, etc. Electrical power consumed by prospective spacecraft designed for communication or environmental monitoring may be as high as 20-30 kW. Manufacturing of semiconductors and biological materials in space may require electrical power of 30-l00 kW in the coming decades. The power required to transport loads between orbits using ion-plasma jet engines will amount to tens to hundreds of kilowatts. For all these missions, nuclear power units have important advantages over solar photoelectric power units in their mass, size, cost, and performance characteristics. There is a good reason to consider the use of thermoelectric Nuclear Power Generators (NPG) for USPs due to their small bulk, their capacity for generating greatly increased power in the high-power mode during 15-20% of the total length of the mission, and minimal disturbance of the motion of the spacecraft