Abstract: A thermoelectric converter including a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric generator including a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.

Abstract: A HotSwap system includes a HotSwap bus and HotSwap cartridges containing payloads and subsystems. The HotSwap cartridges can be installed into or removed from the HotSwap bus, with the installation or removal involving the use of a HotSwap End Effector. Subsystems can be attached to the HotSwap cartridges and can interface with the HotSwap bus. The cartridges can accommodate current spacecraft standard subsystems or standard payloads, and are intended to be removed, replaced, or exchanged in orbit, including by a service vehicle or robot to allow for rapid replacement of old, used, or damaged spacecraft systems. The cartridges are secured in place in the HotSwap bus, which can allow power and communication between subsystems.

Abstract: ThermaSat™ propulsion system uses water as a safe and non-explosive propellant, and which is unpressurized at liftoff. Utilizing solar thermal propulsion, the compact and efficient capacitor heats water to steam to produce high thrust and total impulse. The advanced optical system allows for the thermal capacitor to charge through solar power alone with no protruding concentrators or power draw from the main bus. Additional solar panels, body mounted to the ThermaSat, provide auxiliary heating of the thermal capacitor when not directly incident to sunlight to promote non-sun pointing operations. Additionally, a conductive insulative system or method can include a phase change material and an insulated thermal capacitor wrapped in an insulative material including an inner layer of a high temperature multi-layer insulation and an outer layer of low temperature multi-layer insulation and the outside of the outer layer is covered with a reflective material.

Abstract: A detector including a resistance measuring device connected to a first conductive wire and a second conductive wire. The detector can be formed of a material that experiences Radiation Induced Conductivity (MC) when exposed to radiation and can be placed in a radiation field to measure electrical resistivity of the detector and the radiation field to gauge a strength of the radiation field. As the radiation field increases, the electrical resistivity of the detector decreases. Additionally, a combination detector can include a first detector with a first wire and a first material, and a second detector with a second wire coated with a coating comprising a fast or thermal neutron absorber. When placed in the thermal neutron field, the coating on the second detector removes a portion of thermal neutrons and leaves RIC effects on the second wire below the coating due to a remaining portion of thermal neutrons.

Abstract: A radioisotope generator including a laser, a volume of target isotope, and nanoparticles in a solid, liquid, or gas state is provided. In at least one aspect, the radioisotope generator accelerates the decay rate of an isotope, with the laser being used to accelerate the decay of the isotope for the production of desired product isotopes.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter including a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric generator including a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter including a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric generator including a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter including a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric generator including a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.

Abstract: A radioisotope generator including a laser, a volume of target isotope, and nanoparticles in a solid, liquid, or gas state is provided. In at least one aspect, the radioisotope generator accelerates the decay rate of an isotope, with the laser being used to accelerate the decay of the isotope for the production of desired product isotopes.

Abstract: ThermaSat™ propulsion system uses water as a safe and non-explosive propellant, and which is unpressurized at liftoff. Utilizing solar thermal propulsion, the compact and efficient capacitor heats water to steam to produce high thrust and total impulse. The advanced optical system allows for the thermal capacitor to charge through solar power alone with no protruding concentrators or power draw from the main bus. Additional solar panels, body mounted to the ThermaSat, provide auxiliary heating of the thermal capacitor when not directly incident to sunlight to promote non-sun pointing operations.

Abstract: ThermaSat™ propulsion system uses water as a safe and non-explosive propellant, and which is unpressurized at liftoff. Utilizing solar thermal propulsion, the compact and efficient capacitor heats water to steam to produce high thrust and total impulse. The advanced optical system allows for the thermal capacitor to charge through solar power alone with no protruding concentrators or power draw from the main bus. Additional solar panels, body mounted to the ThermaSat, provide auxiliary heating of the thermal capacitor when not directly incident to sunlight to promote non-sun pointing operations.

Abstract: ThermaSat™ propulsion system uses water as a safe and non-explosive propellant, and which is unpressurized at liftoff. Utilizing solar thermal propulsion, the compact and efficient capacitor heats water to steam to produce high thrust and total impulse. The advanced optical system allows for the thermal capacitor to charge through solar power alone with no protruding concentrators or power draw from the main bus. Additional solar panels, body mounted to the ThermaSat, provide auxiliary heating of the thermal capacitor when not directly incident to sunlight to promote non-sun pointing operations.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter including a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric generator including a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.