objectives, a source-working fluid temperature greater than 4000 K is required. Only a fissile vapor core reactor appears capable of producing these temperatures and only magneto-hydrodynamic or magneto-induction power conversion can couple directly to the core outlet and utilize these temperatures. 2.1 Reactor Outlet Temperature The single most relevant and unique feature of gas/vapor core class reactors for space power generation is that the reactor outlet temperature is not constrained by solid fuelcladding temperature limitations. It is the physical state of the vapor or gaseous fissile material in the core that provides the potential for very high temperature operation. Ultrahigh temperature vapor or gas reactors can easily attain fluid temperature hotter than 4000 K. Shown in Fig. 3 is a limiting temperature profile for solid and vapor (gas) fueled reactors. The temperature profiles show measured and expected solid fuel and working fluid performance and the expected trend of GCRs/UTVRs in continuous mode operation; the higher temperatures obtainable by pulsed mode operation are also shown for comparison. Materials constraints on temperature for these reactors are shifted from the fuel-cladding interface of solid fuel reactors to the containment vessels and components exposed to the fuel or fuel-working fluid mixture. However, vessel walls
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