SP-100

{{For|the antigen|Sp100 nuclear antigen}}

File:SP-100 Reactor Drawing.png

SP-100 (Space reactor Prototype[http://www.allacronyms.com/SP-100/Space_reactor_prototype Acronyms: SP-100 means Space reactor prototype]) was a U.S. research program for nuclear fission reactors usable as small fission power systems for spacecraft.{{cite web |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19870013594 |website=NASA |title=SP-100 Advanced Technology Program |access-date=Oct 27, 2024}} It was started in 1983 by NASA, the US Department of Energy and other agencies.SP-100, the US Space Nuclear Reactor Power Program, Technical information report. Available at [http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/purl.cover.jsp?purl=/10184691/SP-100,theUSSpaceNuclearReactorPowerProgram.Technicalinformationreport.pdf Energy Citations Database]

A reactor was developed with heat pipes transporting the heat to thermoelectric generators. It was cooled with lithium.{{cite book|last=Stănculescu|first=Adrian|title=The Role of Nuclear Power and Nuclear Propulsion in the Peaceful Exploration|publisher=International Atomic Energy Agency|location=Vienna|date=2005|pages=21–22|isbn=92-0-107404-2|url=http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1197_web.pdf|accessdate=2009-02-24}}

The project never advanced to flight hardware and was terminated in 1994.

{{cite news |last1=Mason|first1=Lee |first2=Sterling |last2=Bailey |first3=Ryan |last3=Bechtel |first4=John |last4=Elliott |first5=Jean-Pierre |last5=Fleurial |first6=Mike |last6=Houts |first7=Rick |last7=Kapernick |first8=Ron |last8=Lipinski |first9=Duncan |last9=MacPherson |first10=Tom |last10=Moreno |first11=Bill |last11=Nesmith |first12=Dave |last12=Poston |first13=Lou |last13=Qualls |first14=Ross |last14=Radel |first15=Abraham |last15=Weitzberg |first16=Jim |last16=Werner |title=Small Fission Power System Feasibility Study — Final Report |url=http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=32899.0;attach=543853 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |agency=NASA/DOE |date=18 November 2010 |quote=The SP-100 program objective was to develop the technologies needed for a broad range of space missions requiring a high power-to-weight ratio with nominal 100 kWe power output. The program began in 1982 and was terminated by Congress in 1994. A high temperature (1350 K) refractory alloy heat transport system with thermoelectric power conversion was designed, uranium nitride fuel was fabricated and irradiated to 6% burnup, and significant amounts of hardware and electronics were successfully tested.}}