DEPLOYABLE SPACE RADIATORS ARE NECESSARY FOR SPACE NUCLEAR POWER SYSTEMS IN THE 500 KWE LEVEL AND ABOVE AND CAN OFFER SIGNIFICANT SYSTEM-WEIGHT SAVINGS EVEN IN THE 100 KWE POWER RANGE.

DEPLOYABLE SPACE RADIATORS ARE NECESSARY FOR SPACE NUCLEAR POWER SYSTEMS IN THE 500 KWE LEVEL AND ABOVE AND CAN OFFER SIGNIFICANT SYSTEM-WEIGHT SAVINGS EVEN IN THE 100 KWE POWER RANGE. CURRENT DEPLOYABLE SYSTEMS DO NOT PROVIDE EFFICIENT TRANSFER OF HEAT ACROSS A SPACE-DEPLOYABLE MECHANICAL INTERFACE. AS A RESULT, DEPLOYABLE RADIATOR DESIGNS ARE FORCED TO INCORPORATE UNRELIABLE FLEXIBLE BELLOW JOINTS OR DEPEND ON SPACE WELDING OF FLUID-FILLED SYSTEM PIPING. THE LATTER TECHNOLOGY DOES NOT EXIST IN PRACTICE TODAY. THIS PROGRAM WILL USE A PROPRIETARY CONCEPT THAT FACILITATES THERMAL AND STRUCTURAL BONDING BETWEEN MATING PRESSURE CONTAINMENT BOUNDARIES. BONDING TECHNIQUES AND MECHANICAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS WILL BE CONFIRMED THROUGH TESTING. IT IS EXPECTED THAT INTERFACE HEAT TRANSFER CONDUCTANCE ON THE ORDER OF 10W/CM2 DEGREES CELSIUS WILL BE ACHIEVED AND THAT THE JOINT STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY WILL SURPASS THAT OF THE MATING COMPONENTS.