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AbstractThe development of nuclear rocket technology is critical for further exploration of extra-terrestrial bodies. Nuclear rockets can provide various advantages over current chemical rockets. However, the harsh environment provides several challenges regarding instrument performance. Temperature extremes, radiation (reactor and space), and the inability to conduct traditional maintenance activities can lead to severe degradation in instrument performance. To better understand the effects of radiation on instrumentation, an irradiation campaign has been designed to test a set of instruments provided by a collaborator in the aerospace industry. Details concerning instrument performance before and after irradiation are provided to allow for an analysis of the tested instruments. Additionally, the design of the irradiation test is described in detail.

AbstractA high-temperature, steady-state, in-pile experiment was developed to simulate prototypical nuclear thermal propulsion conditions. The experimental development of the resistively heated test apparatus involved spatially scaling the device to a larger heated region from a previous smaller out-of-pile prototype. A series of tests and investigations were conducted to replicate the smaller out-of-pile system’s success of achieving 2500 K. However, limitations within the larger assembly were identified; specifically, the heater filament design does not scale well. The larger assembly can reliably generate usable temperature levels from room temperature up to those exceeding 1300 K for hours. It can briefly sustain a usable 1800 K. The larger system is achieving temperatures over 2500 K, but these are localized and unable to be monitored in the current design. The achieved temperature levels remain suitable for testing various components considered for a nuclear thermal rocket. However, due to the limitations of the current heater filament, it is recommended that the apparatus be redesigned to utilize a rigid heating element similar to that used during the Radioisotope Propulsion Technology Program (Project POODLE) in the 1960s.

AbstractNuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) demonstrated a reported technology readiness level of 5 during the work performed in the 1950s–1970s under the Rover program. This level of capability was achieved through the design, construction, and use of 22 experimental ground tests. These experiments served as testbeds for designs, materials, and instrumentation at prototypical NTP conditions. To continue the investigation into NTP system materials, components, and fuels, a modern experimental testbed has been designed and implemented. A steady-state, high-temperature, subscale, in-pile testbed has been developed to continue this investigation. The In-Pile Experiment Set Apparatus (INSET) has demonstrated that it can be used to test samples under two NTP prototypical environmental factors: temperature and neutron fluence. The demonstration using The Ohio State University Research Reactor is presented here. This demonstration required INSET to maintain a thermal environment below 1070 K for 15 min during a 5-h irradiation to achieve a neutron fluence around 1017 n/cm2.