COMPACT CLOSED CYCLE BURST POWER SYSTEMS

THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES AN INNOVATIVE THERMAL ENERGY ABSORPTION, STORAGE AND DISSIPATION CONCEPT THAT ENABLES THE DEVELOPMENT OF VERY COMPACT, MANEUVERABLE, CLOSED CYCLE, MULTIMEGAWATT SPACE BURST POWER SYSTEMS. THE CONCEPT CAN BEST BE APPLIED TO THE ADVANCED, HIGH POWER DENSITY, INCORE THERMIONIC BURST POWER SYSTEMS, TO THE POTASSIUM OR SODIUM RANKINE CYCLE REACTOR BURST POWER SYSTEMS; OR, POTENTIALLY, TO MHD BURST POWER SYSTEMS COUPLED TO PULSED GASEOUS CORE NUCLEAR REACTORS. THE CONCEPT FACILITATES REPETITIVE FIRING OF THE BURST POWER SYSTEM ON EACH SUCCESSIVE ORBIT. THE RESULTING POWER SYSTEM CAN BE TESTED AND DEMONSTRATED MANY TIMES AND CAN CONTINUE A STATE OF MAXIMUM READINESS WITHOUT LOGISTICAL SUPPORT. THE RESULTING POWER SYSTEMSCAN BE COMPACT FOR SINGLE VEHICLE LAUNCH WITH PAYLOAD, AND CAN BE SELF DEPLOYED AT OPERATIONAL OR PARKING ORBITS.