Fission Surface Power System Technology for NASA Exploration Missions

Fission Surface Power System Technology for NASA Exploration Missions Review

Under the NASA Exploration Technology Development
Program (ETDP) and in partnership with the Department of
Energy (DOE), NASA has embarked on a project to develop
Fission Surface Power (FSP) technology. A primary project
goal is to develop viable FSP system options by 2013 to
support an expected NASA decision to develop flight power
systems for lunar outposts and later missions to Mars. The
main FSP project objectives are as follows:

1) Develop FSP concepts that meet expected surface power
requirements at reasonable cost with added benefits over
other options.

2) Establish a hardware-based technical foundation for FSP
design concepts and reduce overall development risk.

3) Reduce the cost uncertainties for FSP and establish
greater credibility for flight system cost estimates.

4) Generate the key products to allow Agency decisionmakers
to consider FSP as a preferred option for flight
development.