Boeing-Led Team to Study Nuclear-Powered Space Systems

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/...r_030729b.html

Boeing-Led Team to Study Nuclear-Powered Space Systems
Boeing Company News Release
July 29, 2003

CHICAGO - NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has
awarded a contract to a Boeing-led [NYSE: BA] team to study deep space
propulsion systems for the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) mission,
scheduled to launch no earlier than 2011.

JIMO would be the first space science mission in NASA's Project
Prometheus, a part of the space agency's initiative to develop space
nuclear power and electric propulsion technologies to revolutionize space
exploration.

The contract, valued at $6 million with a $5 million option for further
research, is one of three awarded and runs through fall 2003. The
Boeing-led team will study technology options for the reactor, power
conversion, electric propulsion and other subsystems of the JIMO
spacecraft meant to explore the Jovian moons Ganymede, Callisto and
Europa. NASA plans to select an industry prime contractor in fall 2004 to
work with JPL to develop, launch and operate the spacecraft.

JIMO would show nuclear reactors can be operated safely and reliably in
space to provide electrical power needed for propulsion and scientific
exploration. The JIMO reactor would provide more than 100 times more
usable onboard power than has been available to previous science probes.
This opens new possibilities for exploration, including more flexible
flight schedules less dependent on planetary positions and longer loiter
times around multiple destinations on the same mission.

Nuclear-powered spacecraft would allow for the collection and return of an
enormous amount of imagery and scientific data and could support
scientific instruments such as ice-penetrating radar, electromagnetically
launched deep penetrators and laser spectroscopes.

"JIMO will be an ambitious project and Boeing is ready to develop new ways
to travel and explore the solar system," said Joe Mills, Boeing vice
president and program manager for JIMO. "I'm excited about the exploration
of Jupiter's icy moons and unlocking their secrets."

Boeing Phantom Works, the company's advanced R&D unit, took a
best-of-industry approach to build its JIMO team, which includes the
company's NASA Systems, Boeing Satellite Systems, Boeing Electronic
Dynamic Devices Inc. and Rocketdyne Propulsion and Power. Among the
companies teamed with Boeing are BWX Technologies Inc., and Ball Aerospace
& Technologies Corp.

BWX Technologies Inc., a division of McDermott Inc., will evaluate reactor
options for the JIMO spacecraft. For the past five decades, BWXT has
supplied nuclear components to the Navy with an unprecedented operational
and safety record. Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. brings its deep
space experience from the Discovery and Mars Exploration Programs to the
team. In addition, Ball has a long heritage of providing scientific
instruments to NASA.

Boeing brings large-scale systems and payload integration experience from
a wide range of military and commercial aircraft, spacecraft and satellite
programs, including some of NASA's most complex systems, such as the
International Space Station. Boeing also offers experience in space
electric propulsion from NASA's Deep Space 1 probe and the 702 series
satellites.

In another part of the NASA Prometheus program, Boeing is also currently
working on a next generation radioisotope power source under a
recently-awarded U.S. Department of Energy contract. This generator is
designed for use both in space and on the surface of planetary bodies such
as Mars.

Scientists believe Jupiter's icy moons have briny oceans beneath their
crusts. These oceans are high-priority destinations for NASA's strategic
mission to understand life in the universe because they could have the key
ingredients for supporting microbial life. These ingredients are liquid
water, chemical nutrients and sources of energy. JIMO's mission - orbiting
and intensively studying multiple moons - could not be accomplished with
conventional propulsion.

The Boeing Company, with headquarters in Chicago, is the leading aerospace
company in the world and the United States' leading exporter. The company
has an extensive global reach, including customers in 145 countries,
employees in more than 70 countries and operations in 38 U.S. states as
well as Canada and Australia.

###

Contact

Glen Golightly Ed Memi
Boeing Phantom Works Boeing NASA Systems
714-372-4742 281-226-4029

"Ron Baalke" wrote in message
...
http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/...r_030729b.html

Boeing-Led Team to Study Nuclear-Powered Space Systems...

There were presumably preliminary studies done before this contract was
awarded. Does anyone know what NASA hopes is achievable in terms of
power/mass ratios? Data in the form of: (for example) 2010: 1ton,10MWE;
3tons,50MWE. 2020 ... etc (or whatever). Also, how much fissile material
would be caried, and how long would it be expected to last at full power?

Roger Stokes wrote:
"Ron Baalke" wrote in message
...

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/...r_030729b.html

Boeing-Led Team to Study Nuclear-Powered Space Systems...


There were presumably preliminary studies done before this contract was
awarded. Does anyone know what NASA hopes is achievable in terms of
power/mass ratios? Data in the form of: (for example) 2010: 1ton,10MWE;
3tons,50MWE. 2020 ... etc (or whatever). Also, how much fissile material
would be caried, and how long would it be expected to last at full power?



From the article, this studies technology for a Jovian moon spacecraft.
Not an L-5 colony.