65 



since FY 1961. The resulting technolog)' from the 

 first generation units has provided a base to guide 

 the current development of SNAP-21 for undersea 

 applications and SNAP-23 for marine surface and 

 terrestrial applications. 



Under the SNAP-21 program, a lOwatt system, 

 is in the final stages of development and will 

 imdergo performance testing in FY 1966. Demon- 

 stration units are to be fabricated and delivered 

 in FY 1967. 



Higher power versions of SNAP-21 (20 and 60 

 watts) will enter the design phase in FY 1966. This 

 development program will draw upon and extend 

 the technology developed for the lower power 

 unit. The detail design will be completed and 

 component development and engineering tests 

 of critical systems will be conducted in FY 1967. 

 Fabrication of demonstration units of each power 

 level will be initiated in FY 1967, with delivery 

 m FY 1968. 



The SNAP- 3 program emphasizes generator 

 economics since it is designed for marine surface 

 applications where it must compete with more 

 conventional power sources. A 60-watt version 

 is being developed and operational testing will 

 begin in FY 1967. Follo^v•-on units in the 25, 100, 

 and 200-watt power range will be de\'eloped 

 during FY 1966 with prototype imits scheduled for 

 completion in FY 1968. 



The development of a very low power (milli- 

 watt range) system will be initiated in FY 1966. 

 Upon completion of detail design, component de- 

 velopment and engineering tests will be started 

 in late FY 1966. 



A high power (kilowatt range) program will be 

 established in FY 1967. The initial phase of the 

 program will consist of studies to define the key 

 feasibility areas and technology requirements. 

 Among the areas which are expected to be investi- 

 gated starting in FY 1968 are alternate fuels, fuel 

 forms, containment, power conversion, and waste 

 heat dissipation. Component and system develop- 

 ment will be initiated as technological progress 

 permits. 



Each development program will provide 

 valuable experience and technology that will 

 guide future efforts. The design and development 

 of additional units or advanced concpets will be 

 initiated as indicated from applications require- 

 ments, technological advances, and changes in 

 isotopic cost or availability. 



2. Low Power Reactor Systems -$1 ,040,000 



This program provides for the development of 

 technologv' for low power nuclear reactor systems, 

 initially covering the 100 KWe to 2 MWe range 

 which may be applicable to a variety of uses such 

 as oceanographic power plants and terrestrial 

 power plants, both attended and unattended. 



The program was initiated in FY 1966. Based 

 upon the reactor technology developed to date, 

 this program will develop additional technology 

 required for oceanographic and terrestrial systems 

 and will take advantage of applicable advance- 

 ments achieved within the Space Electric Power 

 Program, Naval Reactor NR-1 Propulsion Reactor 

 Development program, and other related Reactor 

 Development and Technology (RD&T) programs. 



Parametric studies were initiated in FY 1966 to 

 define the design features of reactor power plants 

 in oceanographic and terrestrial applications and 

 determine the additional technology required. 

 The features which will be investigated include 

 economic trade-offs, power plant characteristics, 

 size and weight requirements, and special design 

 features required by the terrestrial, marine surface 

 and deepsea environment. The technology areas 

 which are expected to be investigated beginning 

 in FY 1967 include primary systems analysis, key 

 component features, fuel element capability, fuel- 

 cladding-coolant material compatibility, and 

 methods of reactor and plant control. 



To demonstrate that component and system 

 technology can be satisfactorily integrated, a 

 proof-of-principle reactor experiment or a proto- 

 type plant is planned for operation in the early 

 1970's. The timing of the reactor experiment is 

 dependent upon the development of the tech- 

 nology and the status of the candidate applications. 



3. Naval Reactors Deep Submergence Vehicle 

 Power Plant Development (NR-1) -$3,000, 000 



The NR-1 is a nuclear-powered, deep-submer- 

 gence research vehicle being developed jointly 

 by the U.S. Navy and the Atomic Energy Commis- 

 sion. Overall responsibility for the project has 

 been assigned to the Director, Special Projects. 

 The Bureau of Ships is responsible for the vehicle 

 and the Naval Reactors Division of the AEC is 



