The role of nuclear reactors in future military satellites

Future military capabilities should certainly be profoundly influenced by emerging shuttle era space technology. Regardless of the specific direction or content of tomorrow's military space program, it is clear that advanced space transportation systems, orbital support facilities, and large-capacity power subsystems are needed to create the generally larger, more sophisticated military space systems of the future. The critical role that space nuclear reactors should play in America's future space program are explored and the current state of nuclear reactor power plant technology is reviewed. Space nuclear reactor technologies have the potential of satisfying power requirements ranging from 10 kW/sub (e)/ to 100 MW/sub (e)/.