V.V. Sinyavsky
Doctor of Technical Science, S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation «ENERGIA», Profes-sor, Science Advisor, 4A, Lenin Street, Korolev, Moscow area, 141070, Russia, tel.: +7(495)513-79-10, Viktor.Sinyavsky@rsce.ru
Doctor of Technical Science, Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU), Professor, 5-1, 2-ya Baumanskaya ul., Moscow, 105005, Russia, Viktor.Sinyavsky@rsce.ru
Received 17 April 2018
Abstract
The paper discusses the advantages of using helium-3 as an environmentally friendly nuclear fuel. Since the Earth is lacking reserves of helium-3 that would be economically sound to develop, the paper discusses the feasibility of its mining from the lunar regolith. The paper discusses the process and a lunar mining system based on solar power with the use of thermal and electric power from a nuclear heat and power plant with a thermionic converter reactor.
Key words
Helium-3, a thermonuclear fuel, lunar mining system, integrated processing of lunar regolith, lunar nuclear heat and power plant.
Bibliographic description
Sinyavsky, V. (2018). A review of conceptual designs of robotic space systems for mining of helium-3 nuclear fuel on the Moon. Robotics and Technical Cybernetics, 2(19), pp.5-15.
UDC identifier:
629.788:622(15)
References
- Golovin, I. (1989). Maloradioaktivnyi upravlyaemyi termoyadernyi sintez [Weakly radioactive controlled thermonuclear fusion]. Preprint IAE [Preprints of Atomic Energy Institute], 4885/8. (in Russian).
- Wittenberg, L., Santarius, J. and Kulcinski, G. (1986). Lunar Source of 3He for Commercial Fusion Power. Fusion Technology, 10(2), pp.167-178.
- Legostaev, V. and Lopota, V. eds. (2011). Luna – shag k tekhnologiyam osvoeniya Solnechnoi sistemy [The Moon is a Step towards Technologies of Solar System Exploration]. Moscow: Rocket and Space Corporation Energia Publ., p.550. (in Russian).
- Maslennikov, A., Sinyavskiy, V. and Yuditskiy, V. (2006). O vozmozhnosti dobychi termo-yadernogo topliva geliya-3 iz atmosfery Yupitera [On the possibility of producing the thermonuclear propellant helium-3 from the Jupiter atmosphere]. Proceedings of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Power Engineering, 1, pp.121-124. (in Russian).
- Gribkov, A., Romanov, S., Sevastianov, N. and Siniavskiy, V. (2007). Lunnyi dobyvayushchii i promyshlenno-pererabatyvayushchii kompleks na baze atomnoi teploelektrostantsii [A Lunar mining/processing facility based on a nuclear thermal power plant]. Proceedings of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Power Engineering, 3, pp.22-34. (in Russian).
- Koroteev, A., Semenov, Y., Semenov, V., Sizentsev, G., Sinyavskiy, V., Sokolov, B. and Sotnikov, B. (2006). Kosmicheskaya tekhnika i kosmonavtika v reshenii ekologicheskikh problem mirovoi energetiki XXI veka [Space technique and aeronautics to resolve of environmental problems of world energy XXI]. Proceedings of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Power Engineering, pp.142-155. (in Russian).
- Legostaev, V., Lopota, V. and Sinyavsky, V. (2013). Prospects for and efficiency in application of space nuclear power plants and nuclear electrorocket propulsion systems. Space En-gineering and Technology, 1, pp.4-15. (in Russian).
- Perminov, A., Moiseyev, N., Sevastianov, N., Bryukhanov, N., Sizentsev, G., Sinyavskiy, V., Sotnikov, B. and Stoiko, S. (2006). Perspektivy osvoeniya Luny [Moon exploration prospects]. Proceedings of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Power Engineering, 1, pp.3-14. (in Russian).
- Shevchenko, V. (2014). Neizbezhnost' ispol'zovaniya vnezemnykh prirodnykh resursov v XXI veke [Inevitability of Exterrestrial Environmental Resources Usage in the XX Century]. In: Materialy mezhdunarodnoi konferentsii «Nauka i budushchee: idei, kotorye izmenyat mir» [Proceedings of International Conference «Science and Future: Ideas which will Change the World»]. pp.221-223. (in Russian).
- Burdakov, V. (1991). Elektroenergiya iz kosmosa [Electrical Energy from Space]. Moscow: Energoizdat. (in Russian).
- Brukhanov, N., Legostaev, V., Lobykin, A., Lopota, V., Sizintsev, G., Sinyavskiy, V., Sotnikov, B., Filippov, I. and Shevchenko, V. (2014). Use of lunar resources for solar system exploration and exploitation in the 21st century. Space Engineering and Technology, 1, pp.3-14. (in Russian).
- Shevchenko, V. (2018). Utilizatsiya privnesennogo na Lunu asteroidnogo veshchestva kak bolee ekonomichnyi put' k polucheniyu kosmicheskikh resursov vysokoi tsennosti [Utilization of asteroidal substances supplied to the Moon as more economically efficient way for receiving of high value space resources]. Space Engineering and Technology, 1. (in Russian).
- Gribkov, A. (2009). Technology and power inputs for space manufacture of metal properllants of rocket engines. Proceedings of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Power Engineering, 2, pp.112-117. (in Russian).
- Bryukhanov, N. and et al. (2006). Zadachi i puti osvoeniya Luny [Tasks and ways of the Moon exploration]. In: Materialy XLI nauchnykh chtenii pamyati K.E. Tsiolkovskogo «Idei K.E. Tsiolkovskogo i problemy kosmonavtiki» [Proceedings of XLI Scientific Readings in memory of K.E. Tsiolkovskiy on Ideas of K.E. Tsiolkovskiy and Cosmonautics Challenges]. pp.9-10. (in Russian).
- Taylor, L. and Kulcinski, G. (1999). Helium-3 on the Moon for Fusion Energy: the Persian Gulf of the 21st Century. Solar System Research, 33(5), pp.338-345.
- Kulcinski, G. and Schmitt, H. (1987). The Moon: an Abundant Source of Clean and Safe Fusion Fuel for the 21-st Century: UWFDM-730. In: 11th International Scientific Forum on Fuel-ing the 21-st Century.
- Sviatoslavsky, I. and Jacobs, M. (1988). Mobile Helium-3 Mining and Extraction System and Its Benefi ts Toward Lunar Base Self-Sufficiency. In: WCSAR-TRAR3-8808-1.
- Smirnov, V. (2006). Sovremennoe sostoyanie termoyadernykh issledovanii. Perspektivy termoyadernoi energetiki [Current state of thermonuclear researches. Prospects for thermonuclear engineering]. In: Aktual'nye problemy Rossiiskoi kosmonavtiki. Trudy XXX akad-emicheskikh chtenii po kosmonavtike [Current Problems of Russian Cosmonautics. XXX Academic Readings on Cosmonautics]. Comission of RAS Publ., pp.38-39. (in Russian).
- Elkin, K., Tselin, A. and Uspenskii, G. (2006). Problemy dobychi na Lune izotopa geliya-3 i dostavki ego na Zemlyu, vozmozhnye puti ikh resheniya, vozmozhnosti otechestvennoi raketno-kosmicheskoi promyshlennosti [Problems of the Moon mining for Helium-3 isotope and its delivery to the Earth, possible ways of solution, capability of domestic rocket and space industry]. In: Aktual'nye problemy Rossiiskoi kosmonavtiki. Trudy XXX akademicheskikh chtenii po kosmonavtike [Current Problems of Russian Cosmonautics. XXX Academic Readings on Cosmonautics]. Comission of RAS Publ., pp.43-44. (in Russian).
- Rogovskii, G., Dolgopolov, V. and Luk'yanchikov, A. (2006). Global'noe issledovanie Luny. Gelii v potentsiale termoyadernoi energetiki [Global exploration of the Moon. Helium-3 in potential for thermonuclear engineering]. In: Aktual'nye problemy Rossiiskoi kosmonavtiki. Trudy XXX akademicheskikh chtenii po kosmonavtike [Current Problems of Russian Cosmonautics. XXX Academic Readings on Cosmonautics]. Comission of RAS Publ., pp.44-45. (in Russian).
- Es'kov, Y. and et al. (2006). Poligon formirovaniya kontseptual'noi modeli samoobespechivaemoi lunnoi stantsii [Conceptual representation ground for self-supporting lunar station]. In: Aktual'nye problemy Rossiiskoi kosmonavtiki. Trudy XXX akademicheskikh chtenii po kosmonavtike [Current Problems of Russian Cosmonautics. XXX Academic Readings on Cosmonautics]. Comission of RAS Publ., pp.46-48. (in Russian).
- Ostrovsky, V., Sinyavsky, V. and Sukhov, Y. (2016). Nuclear-Electric Interorbital Tug Gerkules with Thermionic Nuclear Power Plant. Cosmonautics and Rocket Engineering, 2, pp.68-74. (in Russian).
- Arakelov, A. and et al. (1993). Razrabotka i ispytaniya agregatov vysokotemperaturnoi litii-niobievoi sistemy okhlazhdeniya termoemissionnoi YaEU kosmicheskogo naznacheniya [Development and test of agregates of high temperature lithium niobic cooling system of thermal electron emission nuclear power plant for space]. Raketno-kosmicheskie dvigateli i energeticheskie ustanovki [Aerospace Engines and Power Systems], 3(41), pp.87-105. (in Russian).
- Branets, V., Cribkov, A., Dzhafarov, G., Evdokimov, R., Zheleznyakov, A., Maslennikov, A., Romanov, S., Sevastianov, N., Siniavskiy, V. and Tugaenko, V. (2007). A nuclear power plant for a manned Lunar base. Proceedings of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Power Engineering, 3, pp.15-21. (in Russian).