Transit power supply
Radioisotope thermoelectric generator with lead telluride converter, discussing intact reentry and impact capability, refractory construction and reliability
Jones, I. R.↗
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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Thermoelectric generators for deep space application
Suitability of radioisotope thermoelectric generators for unmanned deep space probes
Rouklove, P.↗
Simulation of radiation from RTG power sources
Simulation of neutron effects from radioisotope thermoelectric power generator on spacecraft electronic components
Newman, P. A., Jr.↗
Unmanned spacecraft RTG shield optimization study Final report
Analytic procedures and computer codes for prediction of weight optimized radioisotope thermoelectric generator shields for unmanned spacecraft
Huang, R.↗
CWO no. 6, RTG user activities in aerospace nuclear safety and operations - An interim resource estimate
Radioisotope thermoelectric generator user nuclear safety tasks including failure mode and safety analyses reporting
Source record↗
Dimensional analysis of the heart - A review
Atrial and ventricular dimensional analysis in animals and man, discussing angiocardiographic, biplane, X ray, indicator dilution, radioisotopic and noninvasive methods
Sandler, H.↗
Introduction to the Nimbus meteorological satellite program
Nimbus meteorological satellite program, discussing global cloud cover mapping and automatic picture taking, radioisotopic thermoelectric generator, sounder instrumentation and remote sensors
Press, H.↗
Electrical power systems for space - Achievements and issues
Electrical power systems for spacecraft, reviewing solar cells, batteries, fuel cells and radioisotope thermoelectric generators
Miller, P. R.↗
Pioneer-class mission capabilities
Pioneer Jupiter spacecraft, noting low weight, radioisotope thermoelectric generators and gyroscopic stabilization by spinning with antenna pointed at earth
Jackson, R. W.↗
Review of long life performance of lead telluride and silicon germanium RTG technologies
Long life performance predictions for lead telluride and silicon germanium radioisotope thermoelectric generators for deep space missions
Caputo, R. S.↗
Gas leak-detection system
Data monitoring of gas leakage in satellites and spacecraft is facilitated by adding gaseous radioisotopes to cold compressed gas and mounting a detector in the thrust nozzle.
Roselli-Lorenzini, F. G.↗
Thermal-powered reciprocating pump
Waste heat from radioisotope thermal generators in spacecraft is transported to keep instruments warm by two-cylinder reciprocating pump powered by energy from warm heat exchange fluid. Each cylinder has thermally nonconductive piston, heat exchange coil, and heat sink surface.
Sabelman, E. E.↗
The Measurement of Radiation Exposure of Astronauts by Radiochemical Techniques
The principal gamma-ray-omitting radioisotopes produced in the body of astronauts by cosmic-ray bombardment which have half-lives long enough to be useful for radiation dose evaluation are Be-7, Na-22, and Na-24. The sodium isotopes were measured in the preflight and postflight urine and feces, and those feces specimens collected during the manned Apollo missions, by analysis of the urine salts and the raw feces in large crystal multidimensional gamma-ray spectrometers. The Be-7 was chemically separated, and its concentration measured in an all Na(T1), anticoincidence shielded, scintillation well crystal. The overall sensitivity of the experiment was reduced by almost all variables such as low concentrations of excreted cosmogenic radionuclides, high concentrations of injected radionuclides, low sample sizes, long delay periods before analysis, and uncertain excretion rates. The astronaut radiation dose in millirads, as determined by this technique, for the Apollo 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 missions was 330, 160, 315, 870 ? 550, 31, 110, and 250 respectively. In view of these limitations this technique would be best applied to cases of unusually high exposures, such as that encountered from solar flares.
R L Brodzinski↗
Reentry thermal protection from Pioneer F RTG insulation material
Ablation tests were performed on the insulation material used in the Pioneer F radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) in the Ames Arc-Heated Planetary-Gas Wind Tunnel. Test results indicate that the material, trade name Min-K 1301, should experience little ablation for heat transfer rates below 40 BTU/sq ft-sec. If the current design were to be changed so that the various pieces of Min-K were fastened or interlocked together the total amount of heat delivered to the RTG heat source during an earth orbital decay reentry would be reduced by at least 22.7%.
Vorreiter, J. W.↗
The measurement of radiation exposure of astronauts by radiochemical techniques
The principal gamma-ray emitting radioisotopes, produced in the body of astronauts by cosmic-ray bombardment, which have half-lives long enough to be useful for radiation dose evaluation, are Be-7, Na-22, and Na-24. The sodium isotopes were measured in the preflight and postflight urine and feces, and those feces specimens collected during the manned Apollo missions, by analysis of the urine salts and the raw feces in large crystal multidimensional gamma-ray spectrometers. The Be-7 was chemically separated, and its concentration measured in an all NaI (TL), anticoincidence shielded, scintillation well crystal. The astronaut radiation dose in millirads, as determined for the Apollo 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 missions, was 330, 160, smaller than 315, 870 plus or minus 550, 31, 110, and smaller than 250, respectively.
Brodzinski, R. L.↗
Design considerations for combined radiation effects facilities for twelve year outer planet spacecraft voyages
The design considerations influencing the choice and utility of environmental simulation methods and facilities are described, insofar as they relate to the requirements imposed on outer planet spacecraft because of radiation environments to be expected. Possible means for duplicating the radioisotope thermoelectric generator radiation environment, and for duplicating the effects of the trapped radiation belt environment are described, together with an assessment of radiation levels to be expected in the vicinity of an environmental testing chamber when in use.
Miller, C. G.↗
The program at JPL to investigate the nuclear interaction of RTG's with scientific instruments on deep space probes
A major concern in the integration of a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) with a spacecraft designed to explore the outer planets is the effect of the emitted radiation on the normal operation of scientific instruments. The necessary techniques and tools developed to allow accurate calculation of the neutron and gamma spectrum emanating from the RTG. The specific sources of radiation were identified and quantified. Monte Carlo techniques are then employed to perform the nuclear transport calculations. The results of these studies are presented. An extensive experimental program was initiated to measure the response of a number of scientific components to the nuclear radiation.
Truscello, V.↗
Heat transfer to four fineness-ratio-1.6 hexagonal prisms with various corner radii at Mach 6
An investigation was conducted in the Langley 20-inch Mach 6 tunnel to define the aerodynamic heat transfer to the radioisotope fuel cask (heat source) of the SNAP-19/Pioneer power system. The shape of the SNAP-19/Pioneer heat source is that of a hexagonal prism with flat ends; the fineness ratio, based on maximum (edge to edge) diameter, is 1.61. Phase-change-paint heat-transfer data and schlieren photographs were obtained on four possible 1/2-scale entry configurations of the SNAP-19/Pioneer heat source. Tests were conducted over a wide range of attitudes and at nominal Reynolds numbers, based on the length of the unablated configuration, of 33,000; 84,000; and 2,200,000.
Hunt, J. L.↗