CONSIDERATIONS OF SAFE OXYGEN STORAGE AND GENERATION FOR LIFE SUPPORT AND POWER GENERATION IN ADVANCED MISSILE BASING SYSTEMS

THE U.S. AIR FORCE IS CONDUCTING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT STUDIES ON ADVANCED MISSILE BASES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STRATEGIC DETERRANCE AND POST ATTACK RESPONSE CAPABILITIES. ONE IMPORTANT FEATURE COMMON TO ALL THE BASING MODES BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF PEACE KEEPER (MX) MISSILE IS THE ABILITY OF THE BASE TO WITHSTAND A NUCLEAR ATTACK AND RESPOND WITH A RETALIATORY STRIKE. IF THE BASE IS TO SURVIVE AND FUNCTION AFTER A NEARBY NUCLEAR ATTACK, IT MUST HAVE INDEPENDENT LIFE SUPPORT AND POWER GENERATION SYSTEMS. RESEARCH INTO OXYGEN STORAGE AND GENERATION METHODS IS NEEDED TO OFFER SAFE, RELIABLE SYSTEMS FOR THESE MISSILE BASES. PAST STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT STORING OXYGEN AS A CRYOGENIC LIQUID (LOX) IS DANGEROUS AND THAT OXYGEN STORED IN THE FORM OF A SOLID, AS SODIUM CHLORATE CANDLES, OFFERS AN ECONOMICALLY VIABLE AND SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO LOX. FOR THIS STUDY, WE PROPOSE TO REVIEW AND ANALYZE THE FEASIBILITY OF STORING LARGE AMOUNTS OF OXYGEN IN CHLORATE CANDLES WHICH WOULD GENERATE OXYGEN SAFELY ON DEMAND. THE RESULTS OF THIS PHASE I STUDY WOULD BE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PHASE II PRE-PROTOTYPE SCALE TESTS OF THE MOST PROMISING CANDLE TYPES AND CANDLE SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS.