Status of the CNES-CEA joint program on space nuclear Brayton systems

A comprehensive study program is being conducted by two agencies of the French government, to assess the ability of nuclear energy to meet space mission needs for a 20 We power source and to provide an adequate basis for selecting a design and a development strategy for such a nuclear system. Within the framework of this program, a major effort is invested in conceptual design studies, transient analyses and evaluation of development effort, to compare the merits of various applicable reactor and conversion technologies. The technical options considered are reviewed, and the conceptual studies are described. A nuclear Brayton system using a sodium- or NaK-cooled fast spectrum reactor at 923 K was selected as being best suited to the French technological capability, and as offering the best assurance of successful ground test qualification and readiness for launch in year 2005. The nuclear Brayton systems is compared with 20 kWe thermoelectric and solar systems