Overview of the issues related to the use of Radioisotope Power Systems in European space missions

Christophe Fongarland; Richard M. Ambrosi; Alessandra Barco; Laurent Jourdainne; Cédric Lemarié; Keith Stephenson; Hugo R. Williams

doi:10.1109/ESPC47532.2019.9049264

Overview of the issues related to the use of Radioisotope Power Systems in European space missions

Christophe Fongarland, Richard M. Ambrosi, Alessandra Barco, Laurent Jourdainne, Cédric Lemarié, Keith Stephenson, Hugo R. Williams

Metallurgy and Materials

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Space nuclear power is the most viable energy source for some space missions, such as the exploration of outer planets or the exploration of a planetary surface with long day/night cycles. Thanks to high energy densities, certain isotopes can generate considerable amounts of heat for long time periods, independently of insolation levels; this heat can be converted into electrical power, or used to keep suitable temperatures inside the spacecraft. However, the presence of radioactive material implies new requirements, to properly manage all the aspects related to safety. A common European safety framework is required for Europe and ESA to independently manage radioisotope power systems: a significant amount of programmatic effort in many domains and by different entities will therefore be required, but the long and wide-ranging experience of other countries in dealing with space nuclear power systems could be an appropriate starting point.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2019 European Space Power Conference, ESPC 2019
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
ISBN (Electronic)	9781728121260
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ESPC47532.2019.9049264
Publication status	Published - Sept 2019
Event	2019 European Space Power Conference, ESPC 2019 - Juan-les-Pins, France Duration: 30 Sept 2019 → 4 Oct 2019

Publication series

Name	2019 European Space Power Conference, ESPC 2019
Volume	2019-January

Conference

Conference	2019 European Space Power Conference, ESPC 2019
Country/Territory	France
City	Juan-les-Pins
Period	30/09/19 → 4/10/19

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank ESA for funding the research program.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 IEEE.

Keywords

Power
Radioisotope
Safety
Space

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Aerospace Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality

Access to Document

10.1109/ESPC47532.2019.9049264

Cite this

Fongarland, C., Ambrosi, R. M., Barco, A., Jourdainne, L., Lemarié, C., Stephenson, K., & Williams, H. R. (2019). Overview of the issues related to the use of Radioisotope Power Systems in European space missions. In 2019 European Space Power Conference, ESPC 2019 Article 9049264 (2019 European Space Power Conference, ESPC 2019; Vol. 2019-January). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). https://doi.org/10.1109/ESPC47532.2019.9049264

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title = "Overview of the issues related to the use of Radioisotope Power Systems in European space missions",

abstract = "Space nuclear power is the most viable energy source for some space missions, such as the exploration of outer planets or the exploration of a planetary surface with long day/night cycles. Thanks to high energy densities, certain isotopes can generate considerable amounts of heat for long time periods, independently of insolation levels; this heat can be converted into electrical power, or used to keep suitable temperatures inside the spacecraft. However, the presence of radioactive material implies new requirements, to properly manage all the aspects related to safety. A common European safety framework is required for Europe and ESA to independently manage radioisotope power systems: a significant amount of programmatic effort in many domains and by different entities will therefore be required, but the long and wide-ranging experience of other countries in dealing with space nuclear power systems could be an appropriate starting point.",

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note = "Funding Information: The authors thank ESA for funding the research program. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 IEEE.; 2019 European Space Power Conference, ESPC 2019 ; Conference date: 30-09-2019 Through 04-10-2019",

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Fongarland, C, Ambrosi, RM, Barco, A, Jourdainne, L, Lemarié, C, Stephenson, K & Williams, HR 2019, Overview of the issues related to the use of Radioisotope Power Systems in European space missions. in 2019 European Space Power Conference, ESPC 2019., 9049264, 2019 European Space Power Conference, ESPC 2019, vol. 2019-January, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2019 European Space Power Conference, ESPC 2019, Juan-les-Pins, France, 30/09/19. https://doi.org/10.1109/ESPC47532.2019.9049264

Overview of the issues related to the use of Radioisotope Power Systems in European space missions. / Fongarland, Christophe; Ambrosi, Richard M.; Barco, Alessandra et al.
2019 European Space Power Conference, ESPC 2019. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2019. 9049264 (2019 European Space Power Conference, ESPC 2019; Vol. 2019-January).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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AU - Stephenson, Keith

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AB - Space nuclear power is the most viable energy source for some space missions, such as the exploration of outer planets or the exploration of a planetary surface with long day/night cycles. Thanks to high energy densities, certain isotopes can generate considerable amounts of heat for long time periods, independently of insolation levels; this heat can be converted into electrical power, or used to keep suitable temperatures inside the spacecraft. However, the presence of radioactive material implies new requirements, to properly manage all the aspects related to safety. A common European safety framework is required for Europe and ESA to independently manage radioisotope power systems: a significant amount of programmatic effort in many domains and by different entities will therefore be required, but the long and wide-ranging experience of other countries in dealing with space nuclear power systems could be an appropriate starting point.

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Fongarland C, Ambrosi RM, Barco A, Jourdainne L, Lemarié C, Stephenson K et al. Overview of the issues related to the use of Radioisotope Power Systems in European space missions. In 2019 European Space Power Conference, ESPC 2019. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). 2019. 9049264. (2019 European Space Power Conference, ESPC 2019). doi: 10.1109/ESPC47532.2019.9049264

Overview of the issues related to the use of Radioisotope Power Systems in European space missions

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this