DEMOCRITOS Demonstrators for Realization of Nuclear Electric Propulsion of the European Roadmaps MEGAHIT & DiPoP

Abstract

The European Commission Horizon 2020 funded DEMOCRITOS project (2015-2017, see under democritos.esf.org) will be primary focused to prepare preliminary design of the ground, core and space demonstrators and their test benches for the megawatt class nuclear electric space propulsion INPPS flagship (International Nuclear Power and Propulsion System). In addition programmatic, organizational and funding aspects for international cooperation related to INPPS realization are sketched. The new project includes partners from Europe, Russia and the Brazilian guest observer IEAv and is the follow-up of the megawatt class nuclear electric propulsion European-Russian MEGAHIT project (www.megahit-eu.org). Europe already established the high power nuclear MEGAHIT and the low power nuclear (20 to 200 kW NEP) DiPoP (www.DiPoP.eu) roadmaps. Because Europe has started the implementations for INPPS flagship in the 2030-2040 timeframe, both roadmaps will be also described-from MEGAHIT the INPPS technology options, the launcher, assembly and system architecture, space mission requirements, communications and public support. In case of DiPoP it will be explained the survey of European capabilities, technical options, potential space missions and the public acceptance as well.

DEMOCRITOS Demonstrators for Realization of Nuclear Electric Propulsion of the European Roadmaps MEGAHIT & DiPoP

“…Several general and detailed suggestions were developed in MEGAHIT. 5) For example, a constructive relationship with communication media must be developed and the project will need an appropriate 'spokes team' of credible knowledgeable spokesperson(s) with the need to cover a variety of ages, both genders and represent all participating countries / continents. That ensures that the cultural differences are factored in.…”

Design and R&D of megawatt lithium-cooled space nuclear reactor

“…200 kW e 的"普罗米修斯"计划 [10] ; 俄罗斯重启了空间 核动力发展计划, 2009年批准实施兆瓦级空间核动力 飞船项目 [11] ; 欧盟围绕兆瓦级空间推进飞船支持了 MEGAHIT, DiPoP, DEMOCRITOS等3个项目的发 展 [12,13] .…”

Key Technologies and Instrumentation for Subsurface Exploration of Ocean Worlds

“…The Soviet program for developing reactors for space applications has been stopped in 1988, however, there is renewed interest in this technology in recent years. E.g., the European Commission has been funding the DEMOKRITOS project, preparing for a mega-watt class nuclear electric space propulsion flagship mission (Jansen et al 2016). The Keldysh Research Centre in Russia manages in cooperation with Roskosmos, Rosatom and the Russian Academy of Sciences the transportation module as a nuclear power and propulsion Fig.…”