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Practice Makes Perfect

Scientists at NASA Glenn practice setting up a kilopower experiment assembly, already enclosed in a vacuum chamber.
NASA Glenn will send kilopower experiment to national nuclear research site.

When you want to get it right, it pays to do a trial run. Scientists at NASA Glenn practiced setting up a kilopower experiment assembly before sending it to the Department of Energy in Nevada. Constructed in our hangar, a lift truck driver manipulated the experiment assembly into position onto the platform, to practice the precise placement required when the experiment arrives at the Nevada National Security Site’s National Criticality Experiments Research Center where it will be integrated with its nuclear reactor core.

In the real test stand, the experiment must be carefully positioned so it can reflect neutrons into the uranium core material, splitting the uranium atoms and producing heat to be converted into electricity. It’s all part of a technology demonstration for 1-10 kilowatt fission power systems for human and robotic exploration in space.