La disponibilité d'un tel réacteur est une étape importante pour le développement de la propulsion électrique.
Sur le SAFE-400 :
http://www3.inspi.ufl.edu/icapp/program/abstracts/1186.html
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/printable_information_papers/inf82print.htm
The SAFE-400 space fission reactor (Safe Affordable Fission Engine) is a 400 kWt HPS producing 100 kWe to power a space vehicle using two Brayton power systems - gas turbines driven directly by the hot gas from the reactor. Heat exchanger outlet temperature is 880°C. The reactor has 127 identical heatpipe modules made of molybdenum, or niobium with 1% zirconium. Each has three fuel pins 1 cm diameter, nesting together into a compact hexagonal core 25 cm across. The fuel pins are 70 cm long (fuelled length 56 cm), the total heatpipe length is 145 cm, extending 75 cm above the core, where they are coupled with the heat exchangers. The core with reflector has a 51 cm diameter. The mass of the core is about 512 kg and each heat exchanger is 72 kg.
SAFE has also been tested with an electric ion drive.
Autres :
Une thèse du MIT décrivant des réacteurs de puissance supérieure (> 1 MWe) : SELENE
http://web.mit.edu/~sdavies/MacData/afs.course.lockers/22/22.33/www/thesis.pdf