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Namesake Originally named the "Nuclear Systems Initiative", Project Prometheus is named after the wisest of the Titans in Greek mythology who gave the gift of fire to humanity. NASA says the name Prometheus indicates its hopes of establishing a new tool for understanding nature and expanding capabilities for the exploration of the Solar System. Motivations Due to their distance from the Sun, spacecraft exploring the outer planets are severely limited in that they cannot use solar power as a source of electrical energy for onboard instrumentation or for ion propulsion systems. Previous missions to the outer planets such as Voyager and Galileo probe have relied on radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG's) as their primary power source. Unlike RTG's which rely on heat produced by the natural decay of radioactive isotopes, Project Prometheus calls for the use of a small nuclear reactor as the primary power source. The primary advantages of this would be: Missions Missions involving Prometheus Nuclear Systems and Technology currently include: Technology Project Prometheus is focused on two types of spacecraft power systems: Studies of Nuclear thermal rocket engines along similar lines as NERVA. Development of RTG type technology, The use of a nuclear reactor to run ion engines. Collaboration Project Prometheus will have substantial involvement of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). DOE's Division of Naval Reactors which currently monitors nuclear reactors for the U.S. Navy was to participate in the design and construction of the reactors for the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter. See also | ||||||||||
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