NASA's "Project Prometheus" is designed to pave the way for future space missions. NASA hopes the project will eventually lead to answering the most challenging scientific questions such as is there life elsewhere in the Solar System, how was the Solar System created, and what is its future?
Overview
The name Prometheus comes from Greek mythology in which Prometheus was the wisest of the Titans and gave the gift of fire to humanity. Prometheus also means 'forethought'.
NASA says the name Prometheus indicates its hopes of establishing a new tool for understanding nature and expanding exploration capabilities. Knowledge enabled by technologies developed by Project Prometheus will also be a powerful gift that will permit peaceful exploration of the Solar System.
"The Nuclear Systems Initiative" was the original title for the program, being clear, concise and easily identifiable. But as the program moved forward, NASA believed that a name containing meanings more related to goals should be used, so the name was changed to "Project Prometheus".
The project will develop the means to efficiently increase power for spacecraft, thereby fundamentally increasing capability for Solar System exploration. Increased power for spacecraft means not only travelling farther or faster, but also exploring more efficiently with enormously greater scientific return. It also allows the flexibility of mid-mission changes to the flight plan in response to new data. High levels of sustained power would permit a new era of Solar System missions designed for agility, longevity, flexibility, and comprehensive scientific exploration.
Some possibilities NASA anticipates are:
- Comprehensive and detailed investigation to create comparative data sets of the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) and all their moons and associated objects.
- Knowledge gained from these data sets would be vital to understanding other recently discovered planetary systems (more gas giants than earth-like planets have been found to date).
- Surfaces and interiors of comets could be comprehensively explored, and samples be returned, to better understand the building blocks of the universe.
- Capabilities for surface and on-orbit exploration of Mars, and sample return, could dramatically expand.
- If spacecraft are not limited by power and can reach the edge of the Solar System, there is important knowledge about its origins to be gained from understanding Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.
- Today, only nuclear power can enable these scientifically vital, but incredibly challenging missions.
Technology focus
Pending approval by Congress, NASA's Project Prometheus would develop the technologies needed to enable the above vision for the future. Two basic types of technology are under consideration for the program:
- Radioisotope Power System (RPS) development would focus on two technologies, the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) and the Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG), that are expected to improve the efficiency and utility of systems that NASA has been using for 30 years. These essential improvements on current technology would enable an "all weather, anywhere, anytime" exploration of planetary surfaces.
- The nuclear fission power and propulsion research would focus on developing the nuclear systems needed for revolutionary new capabilities in space exploration. Project Prometheus would include research on reactors, advanced heat-to-power conversion, and power management and distribution technologies to provide spacecraft flexibility, long-mission durations, and orders of magnitude more power for science instruments. See the NASA Fact Sheet on Space Fission Reactor Power Systems for additional information. [1]
Programmatic focus
Project Prometheus will have substantial involvement of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). NASA will define the science requirements for future exploration missions and manage the RPS and fission-based programs, as well as the spacecraft systems engineering. A substantial portion of Project Prometheus research and development will be competitively awarded. The DOE will manage work awarded in the nuclear area, while NASA centers (Glenn Research Center and Marshall Space Flight Center) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will manage work awarded in the non-nuclear area.
The initial activity for the fission power and propulsion program will focus on defining the near-term technology research goals, and on identifying planetary science missions uniquely enabled by nuclear fission electric power and propulsion. The RPS program will concentrate on developing the MMRTG and SRG systems (either of which could be of potential use on the Mars Smart Lander Mission to be launched in 2009).
The program has also identified a planetary science mission that will be uniquely enabled by nuclear fission electric power and propulsion: the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter. This would be an ambitious mission to orbit three planet-sized moons of Jupiter (Callisto, Ganymede and Europa) which may harbor vast oceans beneath their icy surfaces. The mission would extensively investigate their makeup, history and potential for sustaining life.
In addition, a range of technologies and system designs will be explored that may be prudent for NASA and DOE to invest in over the next several years, beyond the specific technologies already under consideration. NASA and DOE would also identify and recommend additional strategic technology investments to potentially enable future human exploration of the Solar System.
In keeping with NASA goals of openness and transparency, Project Prometheus would seek to ensure open, inclusive dialogue and engagement with the public, media, educators, legislators and others; to foster technology education and outreach programs; and to make appropriate materials available on the Internet.
Safety issues
Project Prometheus will emphasize the safe way NASA's operates and designs missions, safety being the primary operating principle for project. Working with the DOE, NASA will extend 30 years' safety experience to the design, manufacture and flight of a fission reactor-based mission. The reactor will have multiple safety features including a design to prevent criticality while the vehicle is still near Earth. Also, Project Prometheus will continue to engage expertise in continuous risk management and risk assessment and will fully comply with environmental and nuclear safety launch approval processes.
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