Using thermionic nuclear power systems with a thermal reactor for interorbital space flights

Abstract

The use of a thermionic NPS with a thermal reactor in space technology to supply power to the RMPS offers broad possibilities for interorbital delivery of payloads while using comparatively cheap launch rockets to place spacecraft in a fixed orbit. The flight time from a fixed to a geostationary orbit ranges from several months to half a year, and the mass of the payload in a geostationary orbit for optimal RMPS parameters may reach 7–8 tons (not counting the mass of the NPS). It should be noted that after the flight is completed, the NPS can serve as a source of electrical power for spacecraft in geostationary orbit.