Heatpipe power system and heatpipe bimodal system design and development options
The Heatpipe Power System (HPS) is a potential, near-term, low-cost space fission power system. The Heatpipe Bimodal System (HBS) is a potential, near-term, low-cost space fission power and/or propulsion system. Both systems will be composed of independent modules, and all compon
Selection note: Curated for modular heatpipe fission power and bimodal power-propulsion concepts, with explicit reliance on independent modules and component databases as a verification strategy.
Evidence boundary: Only NTRS metadata and an abstract are open here; scheduled prototype work, integration claims, nuclear safety, and later outcomes were not checked. It is historical civil concept context, not evidence of readiness.
Stable record
ntrs-19980000721
Topic
power-thermal
Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Publisher
Marshall Space Flight Center
Authors
Houts, M. G.; Poston, D. I.; Emrich, W. J., Jr.
Year
1997
Editorial state
metadata curated editorial draft
Reviewer
GShips Project editorial synthesis
Official link checked
2026-07-25
Source-supplied abstract
The Heatpipe Power System (HPS) is a potential, near-term, low-cost space fission power system. The Heatpipe Bimodal System (HBS) is a potential, near-term, low-cost space fission power and/or propulsion system. Both systems will be composed of independent modules, and all components operate within the existing databases. The HPS and HBS have relatively few system integration issues; thus, the successful development of a module is a significant step toward verifying system feasibility and performance estimates. A prototypic HPS module is being fabricated, and testing is scheduled to begin in November 1996. A successful test will provide high confidence that the HPS can achieve its predicted performance.
Abstract text has not been adopted as a GShips conclusion.
What would change this record?
A newer or corrected version, a retraction, a verified duplicate, a material topic mismatch, a changed access state, or claim-level review would trigger a dated editorial update.
Only NTRS metadata and an abstract are open here; scheduled prototype work, integration claims, nuclear safety, and later outcomes were not checked. It is historical civil concept context, not evidence of readiness.
Source-supplied titles, abstracts, authors, and dates may require correction against the canonical full text.
What would change this page?
A newer or corrected version, retraction, verified duplicate, material topic mismatch, changed access state, or claim-level assessment would change this record.
People, review, and conflicts
Prepared by
GShips Project
Editorial status
metadata-curated-editorial-draft
Editorial reviewer
GShips Project editorial synthesis
Last editorial review
No editorial-review date recorded
Independent review
pending
Independent reviewer
No independent reviewer assigned
Last independent review
No independent-review date exists
Last content edit
Not recorded separately
Official source or link verified
2026-07-25
Declared conflicts
The maintainer intends to explore a commercial venture based on some GShips work. No entity, outside funding, customer, sponsor, or indexed-organization relationship currently exists.