Published 1995 | Version v1
Miscellaneous

Experience of thermionic space nuclear power systems (TSNPS) 'TOPAZ' development

  • 1. State Scientific Centre, Institute of Physics and Power Engineering, Obninsk (Russian Federation)

Description

Nuclear reactors as sources of power provision for space vehicles were considered at first in the end of fifties, during the first stage of space explorations by the USSR and USA. From the year 1970 Russia kept the priority in the field of direct energy conversion Space Nuclear Power Systems (SNPS) development and tests. Confirmation to this were successful ground tests in IPPE of seven 'TOPAZ-1' Thermionic Space Nuclear Power System (TSNPS) units and two space units in 1987-1988 on the satellites of 'Kosmos' series. Besides, more than thirty thermoelectrical SNPS were launched to orbits in USSR during 1970-1988. (J.P.N.)

Part of:
ICONE-3: Proceedings of the 3rd JSME/ASME joint international conference on nuclear engineering. Volume 2

Additional details

Publishing Information

Imprint Title
ICONE-3: Proceedings of the 3rd JSME/ASME joint international conference on nuclear engineering. Volume 2
Imprint Pagination
512 p.
Journal Page Range
p. 1137-1142

Conference

Title
3. JSME/ASME joint international conference on nuclear engineering
Acronym
ICONE-3
Dates
23-27 Apr 1995
Place
Kyoto (Japan)

Optional Information

Notes
5 refs., 1 tab.