energy.gov | NNSA and the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) joined forces to address a unique challenge:
developing a power source able to support deep space travel and outlast
existing fuel sources. NNSA came through with the technical expertise required to achieve this goal.
“The
relationship between NNSA and NASA is a ‘win-win’ partnership,” said
Patrick Cahalane, NNSA’s Principal Deputy Associate Administrator for
Safety, Infrastructure and Operations. “NASA gets a prototype
demonstration for a kilowatt-range fission power source, and NNSA gets a
benchmark-quality experiment that provides new nuclear data in support
of our Nuclear Criticality Safety Program.”
The experiment, nicknamed KRUSTY (Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling TechnologY), was part of NASA’s larger Kilopower project. KRUSTY was designed to test a prototype fission reactor coupled to a Stirling engine. Stirling technology is efficient, doesn’t require significant maintenance, and does not degrade in performance over time.
Scientists from NNSA’s Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Nevada National Security Site partnered with NASA to develop and test the KRUSTY design at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC).
Researchers designed and performed initial testing of the KRUSTY reactor design using a surrogate, or non-fissile, reactor core and resistive heating elements. Experts from NNSA’s Y-12 National Security Complex manufactured the uranium reactor core, which was delivered to the NCERC in the fall of 2017.
Scientists from NNSA’s Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Nevada National Security Site partnered with NASA to develop and test the KRUSTY design at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC).
Researchers designed and performed initial testing of the KRUSTY reactor design using a surrogate, or non-fissile, reactor core and resistive heating elements. Experts from NNSA’s Y-12 National Security Complex manufactured the uranium reactor core, which was delivered to the NCERC in the fall of 2017.
