Kilopower Small Fission Technology (KP)

Starting with a study commissioned by the Decadal Survey Giant Planets Panel (GPP) and the NASA Science Mission Directorate in 2010, NASA and the Department of Energy (DOE) have conducted investigations of the feasibility of a small fission power system for science and human exploration needs. In 2012 the completion of the proof of concept Demonstration Using Flattop Fission (DUFF) nuclear test gave NASA confidence that performing nuclear ground testing could be done affordably when partnering with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and using their existing facilities. The DUFF experiment integrated the existing Flattop experimental fission reactor with a heat pipe that transferred fission-generated heat to a pair of small Stirling engines supplied by the NASA RPS Program. This bench-top, proof of concept experiment of a small fission power system established that a small team of experts could plan, develop, and test a small fission power system in existing facilities in less than six months. This established a basis for the formulation of the Kilopower technology development and demonstration project to build and demonstrate a flight-like system operated at prototypic conditions in a relevant environment (Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5) for space science and human exploration power needs.