Kilopower Project: The KRUSTY Fission Power Experiment and Potential Missions

TLDR

The Kilopower Project was launched to demonstrate subsystem‑level readiness of small space fission power for space science and human exploration, with technologies extensible to 1–10 kW electric systems for modular surface power and future deep‑space missions. KRUSTY, a ground‑based 1‑kW(electric) fission power system demonstrator, was developed and tested as the project’s centerpiece, with co‑funding from NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

Abstract

The Kilopower Project was initiated by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate/Game Changing Development Program in fiscal year 2015 to demonstrate subsystem-level technology readiness of small space fission power in a relevant environment (Technology Readiness Level 5) for space science and human exploration power needs. The Kilopower Project centerpiece is the Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling TechnologY (KRUSTY) test, which consists of the development and testing of a ground technology demonstrator of a 1-kW(electric)–class fission power system (FPS). The technologies to be developed and validated by KRUSTY are extensible to space FPSs from 1 to 10 kW(electric), which can enable modular surface FPSs for human exploration as well as higher-power future potential deep space science missions. The KRUSTY demonstration is cofunded by NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration. The KRUSTY demonstration in the National Critical Experiment Research Center's Device Assembly Facility was completed in the first quarter of 2018.