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Management of Commercially Generated Radioactive Waste - U.S. ...

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6.144<br />

Rescue Technology. Remote automated rendezvous and docking capabilities would probably<br />

be required for space disposal <strong>of</strong> radioactive waste. The HLW payload would require techno-<br />

logy development to provide recovery capabilities for payloads in deep space, especially for<br />

uncontrollable and/or tumbling payloads. Also, it might be necessary to develop new techno-<br />

logy for deep ocean recovery <strong>of</strong> aborted or reentrant payloads. Deep ocean recovery has been<br />

demonstrated on several recent projects, but any new, special capabilities to handle HLW pay-<br />

loads would need to be defined. Special equipment to recover reentrant payloads that touch<br />

down on land might also be required, although the technological challenge would probably not<br />

be as great.<br />

R&D Requirements<br />

In the final analysis, R&D needs would depend on the space disposal mission selected.<br />

The R&D requirements for this program would span the spectrum from systems definition con-<br />

ceptual studies through generic technology development (e.g., waste form) to engineering de-<br />

velopments <strong>of</strong> facilities and hardware (e.g., the payload preparation facility and tailored<br />

space vehicles). These latter aspects would be deferred until the space disposal mission is<br />

better defined.<br />

Thus, initial R&D would need to cover the following elements for concept definition and<br />

evaluations, listed approximately in sequential order.<br />

* Perform trade-<strong>of</strong>f and risk analysis studies to select the mix <strong>of</strong> radionuclides for space<br />

disposal<br />

* Assess technology availability <strong>of</strong> waste processing and waste partitioning options<br />

* Develop waste form criteria and options for space disposal<br />

* Define facilities and ground transportation systems requiring R&D<br />

* Define waste payload systems and containment requirements<br />

* Define and select flight support systems for the space disposal option (e.g., shielding)<br />

* Complete conceptual definition <strong>of</strong> unique launch site systems<br />

* Assess advanced launch systems under development for space disposal applicability<br />

* Define possible systems for transferring nuclear waste from Earth orbit and recovering<br />

failed payloads<br />

* Characterize possible space destinations and missions<br />

* Assess unique safety and environmental aspects <strong>of</strong> the space mission (e.g., launch pad<br />

fires and explosions affecting the waste package).<br />

These conceptual studies would set the requirements for future R&D programs, if war-<br />

ranted. Other applicable ongoing R&D projects, e.g., concept definition <strong>of</strong> metal matrix<br />

waste forms and advanced launch system definition, would be pursued concurrently.

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