USNC-Tech is proposing a modular radioisotope power system. This system would enable a low-cost flight demonstration of a high efficiency dynamic power system using a low-cost radioisotope and maintaining compatibility with the GPHS Pu-238 power source due to its modular design. Co-60 is routinely produced in 500 W scale quantities needed for a dynamic power system demonstration. While interfacing C0-60 is different than for the General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) block, the proposed concept is (1) modular to accommodate either Pu-238 or Co-60, (2) still optimized for Pu-238, (3) uses currently developed hardware by the NASA DRPS programs, and (4) focuses on enabling a near term launch demonstration. USNC-Tech has teamed with Sunpower, the developer of the Sunpower Robust Stirling Convertor (SRSC). USNC-Tech is bringing expertise with inexpensive radioisotope technology based on the medical radioisotope industry in the form of its EmberCore technology to combine the radioisotope with the SRSC in a configuration notionally like the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) but modified to (1) be modular such that it can utilize alternative radioisotopes or GPHS blocks and (2) utilize heat pipes to distribute heat to convertors. USNC-Tech refers to the concept as the Modular Radioisotope Dynamic Generator (MRDG). Modularity of the radioisotope will allow for use of a shorter-lived inexpensive isotopes such as 5.7-year Co-60 for lower cost missions, ease the supply chain requirements for Pu-238, yet leverage system commonality for Pu-238 to be used for long-life missions to the outer solar system, for example. Anticipated
Benefits: Lunar surface landers & rovers in need of night survival or PSR operation. Deep space science missions of limited budget (Discovery, SIMPLEX, etc.). Defense customers in need of spacecraft solutions that are agnostic to the Sun and are not burdened by the need to point photovoltaic panels. Defense customers looking for non-photovoltaic power sources to act as supplemental backup power to a primary photovoltaic system.
