SNAP 8 Reactor Program (1963)

Credit: U.S. Department of Energy
Atomics International SNAP-10A Program
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Sodium Reactor Experiment
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SNAP-10A was an experimental nuclear reactor launched into space in 1965. The Systems Nuclear Auxiliary Power Program (SNAP) reactor was developed under the SNAPSHOT program overseen by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
Atomics International, then a division of North American Aviation was the prime contractor for the SNAP-10A development. Most of the systems development and reactor testing was conducted at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, Ventura County, California using a number of specialized facilities. A United States Department of Energy video depicting the development and fabrication of the SNAP-10A is available.
The company also developed and tested other compact nuclear reactors including the SNAP Experimental Reactor (SER), SNAP-2, SNAP-8 Developmental Reactor (SNAP8-DR) and SNAP-8 Experimental Reactor (SNAP-8ER) units at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. Atomics International also built and operated the Sodium Reactor Experiment, the first U.S. nuclear power plant to supply electricity to a public power system.
The testing and development involving radioactive materials caused environmental contamination at the former Atomics International Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) facilities. The United States Department of Energy is responsible for the identification and cleanup of the radioactive contamination. (The SSFL was also used for the unrelated testing and development of rocket engines by Rocketdyne primarily for NASA.) The DOE website supporting the site cleanup details the historical development of nuclear energy at SSFL including additional SNAP testing and development information.

[@Nikolaii2571]

Thank you for the upload.

[@HiVisionary1125]

"If boiling mercury seems like a reasonable answer to your question, ask a different question." Ultimately, a variety of other power conversion techniques were applied, ranging from a potassium steam turbine to thermoelectric conversion, which actually flew as SNAP-10A.

[@gentbar7296]

at least the loonies got a full dose of mercury radi-isotopes steam, before choosing the latter

[@user-jt5vm3mi1w]

@@gentbar7296 I think all isotopes of mercury are stable anyway

[@jfbeam]

It'll be in space, so it's fine. (RTG's use plutonium, so they aren't any better.)

[@TerryClarkAccordioncrazy]

Sketchy as it seems, at least mercury is one of the few coolants that won't explode in contact with NaK.

[@jimharrydariusjr.whitesell4026]

the only obstacle to building one of these generators is obtaining material and compliance of safety protocol. My uncle Buddy Alen was plant manager at paloverdy nuclear plant in AZ. He shot at some dude at fisters faucet bar and lost his nuclear clearance.

[@gregorymalchuk272]

What happened?

[@craigvanderborgh4324]

That thing is so heavy - no wonder it never flew!

[@dfinlen]

With a shield how big would this thing be? Can we sell these at Walmart? Would make a great battery backup haha.

[@utah133]

Molten salt and boiling mercury.. I'd want that thing well up into space!

[@Bob-yl9pm]

I'd want it never built!

[@Bob-yl9pm]

Mercury is bad enough, exposure to beryllium at levels at 100 μg/m3 will make you sick!

[@evannibbe9375]

This is a solid fuel reactor, not a molten salt (which generally means Thorium, not Uranium) reactor.

[@timtim8468]

Mercury comes out of coal burning power plant's chimneys all the time, accounted in tonns. Worrying about mercury here is pointless.

[@movax20h]

1:00 "600 kW of usable thermal power". I do not believe that. Wouldn't reactor of such small size simply melt in seconds with so much power? You would need tons of sodium or mercury moving every second to cool it down. AFAIK SNAP 10A was about 500W, and 590W peak.

[@ThyAnon]

Possibly 600kW at its peak when pushed to super-critical. Reminder that it's cooled with liquid metal.

[@WadcaWymiaru]

Smaller MRS in Oak ridge reach 10 MW. Only 1m^3...

[@aleksandersuur9475]

When in doubt, calculate! Inlet temperature 1100F, outlet 1300F, flowrate 13lbs/s, specific heat capacity of NaK 982J/(kg*K) That makes for cooling capacity of 2.122MW, can you get rid of that much heat downstream in cooling panels is a question on it's own, but as per the rated spec there in plenty of cooling margin in the reactor itself.

[@NOBOX7]

That's only 2 car engines

[@johnmanderson2060]

Thanks for the upload 👍🏻 Could you please reupload the video with a 4/3 picture ratio instead of the wrong compressed square ratio ? Many thanks 🙏🏼

[@MajorT0m]

Yes the original aspect ratio would make this the perfect effort.

[@thio59]

what happens upon (deliberate or accidental) reentry? will we get a nuclear waste spray shower all over the place?

[@orange70383]

So it was designed to last just 14 months.

[@whangie1]

I heard of an ex Atomics International executive who has one of these in his house in LA! He even starts it up from time to time. Wayne Meyers or something. What a cool collectible to have!

[@RCAvhstape]

Starts up what? A fission reactor? In his house? Citation please!

[@hjembrentkent6181]

That's just not possible, according to this video the reactor gives off 10^11 RADs. Lethal dose in hundredths of a second,

[@leerman22]

This reactor doesn't have any shielding. If someone had one of these they would know to use lots of lead and boron shielding. Lead for Gammas and boron for neutrons.

[@gentbar7296]

Pres. Trump Fan no wonder u pick cheeto buddy

[@cat637d]

@@gentbar7296 Idiot!

[@thio59]

what an insane idea

[@gentbar7296]

since the Sre went critical and smap 8 failed to go to space (so the snap8 leaked ?) they forget to add radiation showered l.a. county

[@gustavgnoettgen]

Has anyone a used SNAP8? Asking for a friend

[@WadcaWymiaru]

Mercury? OMG Faliture!

[@marconius101]

All that risk for 10.000 hours of designed life time.....13 months, damn.....

[@breakingbolts8871]

gunbroker has some Pre-ban SERs.. hard to find ammo tho

[@railgap]

The hand filing at 5:40 ROFLCOPTER

[@cowboybob7093]

Safety First! Vacuum cleaning, masks and lab coats. I wonder what the film crew was wearing.

[@leerman22]

It's not critical there, that would be stupid. there's just the little radioactive decay that could get through the metal casing at that point, or just an inert testbed.