Affordable In-Space Demonstration of Dynamic Radioisotope Power Conversion

USNC-Tech is proposing a modular radioisotope power system. This system would enable a low-cost flight demonstration of a high efficiency dynamic power system using a low-cost radioisotope and maintaining compatibility with thenbsp;GPHS Pu-238 power source due to its modular design. Co-60nbsp;is routinely produced in 500 W scale quantities needed for a dynamic power system demonstration. While interfacing C0-60 is different than for the General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) block, the proposed concept isnbsp;(1) modular to accommodate either Pu-238 or Co-60, (2) still optimized for Pu-238, (3) uses currently developed hardware by the NASA DRPS programs, and (4) focuses on enabling a near term launch demonstration.nbsp;USNC-Tech has teamed with Sunpower, the developer of the Sunpower Robust Stirling Convertor (SRSC). USNC-Tech is bringing expertise with inexpensive radioisotope technology based on the medical radioisotope industry in the form of its EmberCoretrade; technology to combine the radioisotope with the SRSC in a configuration notionally like the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) but modified to (1) be modular such that it can utilize alternative radioisotopes ornbsp;GPHS blocks and (2) utilize heat pipes to distribute heatnbsp;to convertors. USNC-Tech refers to the concept as the Modular Radioisotope Dynamic Generator (MRDG). nbsp;nbsp;Modularity of the radioisotope will allow for use of a shorter-lived inexpensive isotopes such as 5.7-year Co-60 for lower cost missions, ease the supply chain requirements for Pu-238, yet leverage system commonality for Pu-238 to be used for long-life missions to the outer solar system, for example.