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The Hall Effect Thrusters (HET's), which are presently available in a broad range of power levels, are recognized as an economic, efficient, and effective means to perform numerous propulsion functions for commercial and military satellite applications. Also, the HET technology is the preferred alternative for future constellations of LEO satellites, and several GEO applications. Power Processing Units (PPU's) for electric thrusters are very complex custom designs which require long and expensive development and qualification cycles. The core element of a HET PPU is its Discharge Power Supply (DPS) which processes more than 95% of the input power. Traditional DPS designs cannot easily accommodate parametric changes, and for severe thermal and EMI issues must be overcome high power applications. These custom approaches require lengthy developments, lack proven “heritage”, are costly.

The Space Power Advanced Core-Length Element Reactor (SPACE-R) System is a moderated core fueled by uranium oxide. The baseline power level is 40 kWe with a system life of 10 years. The system is launched without radioactivity and is designed to meet all U.S. and international public safety and environmental protection objectives with minimum loading of fissionable 235U and minimum proliferation potential. The key feature of the SPACER system is the core-length, single-cell thermionic fuel element (TFE). The open end of the emitter cavity permits an electrical heater to be inserted for full power operational testing of each TFE and the entire reactor assembly before the UO2 fuel is loaded. The current design is based upon technologies, materials, components, and temperatures that have been space flight proven within the U.S. SNAP reactor program, and the Soviet Topaz reactor programs.