Through innovative packaging and other improvements it may be possible to design radioisotope heat source assemblies so that the working fluid temperature can approach the allowable radioisotope operating temperatures. This would allow the use of closed Brayton cycle systems which could operate at higher temperature and efficiency, with attendant improvements in specific weight and radiator area. There are exciting prospects for the application of closed Brayton cycle systems to future space missions, particularly those contemplated by the NASA Pathfinder program. The exploration of the moon and Mars will require a wide variety of both portable and stationary power plants. Improvements in energy sources, higher temperature materials, and the capability of scaling CBC technology to operate efficiently over a range from a few kilowatts to megawatts make CBC systems applicable to all of these missions. Initial exploration efforts will require portable power for manned and unmanned lunar and Mars rovers and for temporary camps. This power requirement can be met by small nuclear reactor heat sources and closed Brayton cycle conversion systems. As permanent bases are established, large stationary power generating systems will be needed. This need will be met by multi-hundred-kilowatt and megawatt nuclear reactor powered systems. CBC conversion systems can reliably and efficiently turn the reactor generated heat into electrical power for supplying the needs of human habitation, mining, and manufacturing. The establishment of permanent bases will not eliminate the need for portable power. Small systems will still be needed for activities away from the lunar or Mars settlements and for the continued exploration of the solar system. Closed Brayton cycle systems will also be applied to powering the space vehicles used to transport men and equipment to Mars and the outer planets. Coupled, again, with nuclear reactors they will be used to provide the power for electric space propulsion systems. In addition to these exciting leading edge applications, more prosaic applications for the closed Brayton cycle will be found in solar dynamic conversion systems which will be used to power future space stations and space factories.
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