Calculational aspects of integrated design of optimum radiation protection of space nuclear power systems - 173

The analysis of missions of spacecrafts has shown, that the space nuclear power systems (SNPS) are competitive for electric power requirements about 50 kW and more. Space nuclear power offers significant increases in available power for spacecraft, independent of sunlight intensity. It is a key element in earth orbit applications, enables the use of high power active sensors, such as radar. However, high powers and long-lived operational life's of SNPS and a large sizes of a radar reduce in increase of a mass of radiation shield. Therefore the creation of shield with minimally possible mass is one of the most important problems of a practical designing of SNPS. (author)