ANALYSIS OF SPACE REACTOR DEBRIS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06771763
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: March 16, 2020
• Case Number: F-2018-02723
• Publication Date: May 30, 1978

Approved for Release: 2020/01/13 C06771763
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Analysis of Space Reactor
Debris
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Analysis ot debris horn the Soviet satel1ite-oenei1 nuclear
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ri.,actor that disintegrated in the atmosphere over northi rn Canada
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ol 24 January indicates that the Soviets are :somewhat a ead of the
Ail; in the use Of space reactors. The apparent sophi'sti4ation ofttle
,actor suggests that the Soviets have a sigRific4TIt p4gram to develop
4
,skicti reactors for military uses in space and implieSithitt they intend
. to continue using such devices.
The reactor fuel
'is apparently a highly enriched uranium metal alloy. Tile use of this
watorial and some evident aspects of the relctoridesieh demonstrate
Lhat the Soviets have advanced significantly beyond thei.r early designs
'for space power reactors. The nomashka reactor of the #1id-1960s and the
Topziz reactors of the early 1970a used more renkonal fuels.
The disintegrated reactor was developed by he Soviet Navy
ocean reconnaissance satellite and was prbbably first
in the .early 1970s. These years of everience with a sophis-
Lit-cited space reactor, added to the previous expeOence with less
L:uptlisticated devices, account for the Soviets, lead in such technology.
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Approved for Release: 2020/01/13 C06771763