Abstract
The start-up, full-power operation, and shutdown (including afterheat removal from the nuclear reactor) stages of operation of the Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application (NERVA) have been demonstrated in the technology program. Start-up is initiated by opening the valve that isolates the engine from the liquid-hydrogen run tank. Two engine systems with unfueled nuclear reactors have been used to investigate this portion of engine operation. A bootstrap technique has been developed that does not depend on auxiliary starting equipment. With the addition of a fueled reactor, as in NRX/EST or XE-P, the energy from the reactor is used to sustain operation or increase to full power. Operation at rated conditions can be sustained for long periods: NRX-A6 has demonstrated a reactor life of 1 hr. Throttling capability allows operation between 60% and 100% thrust at full specific impulse. After shutdown, a period of several days is needed to remove the delayed energy (radioactive decay) from the nuclear reactor by intermittently pulsing propellant through the reactor.
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