Nuclear Power Systems for Spacecraft

A review and comparison of the weights, sizes, and costs of nuclear and non-nuclear spacecraft power systems is presented and discussed. Nuclear power systems include the range below 10 kW, with an electrical output to weight ratio of 0.5 to 1.0 pounds per watt. Comparisons show that primary batteries are lighter for short-duration missions of a few hours; fuel cells are lighter for durations of one to two months; and solar-cell/secondary battery combinations are to be preferred when sunlight is adequate.