Appendix A
Statement of Task
The ASEB [Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board] will assemble a committee with expert knowledge in thermionic direct energy conversion, space power supplies, and associated technologies to conduct an independent technical assessment of DTRA’ s thermionic direct energy conversion research and technology program. The committee will assess the results of the earlier work in the area of thermionics that was conducted under the jointly managed Russia/United States project, TOPAZ. Advances in the state of the art resulting from this earlier thermionics technology work will be identified and evaluated. Assessments will be made of the most critical technical challenges remaining in the development of viable thermionic direct energy conversion systems. Specifically, the study will:
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Evaluate DTRA’s earlier work in the area of thermionic energy conversion and assess its impact on the state of the art of thermionics technology.
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Assess the present state of the art of thermionic energy conversion systems.
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Assess the technical challenges to the development of viable thermionic energy conversion systems.
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Recommend a prioritized set of objectives for a future DTRA research and development program for advanced thermionic systems for space and terrestrial applications.
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Conduct a workshop for the interim discussion of major technical challenges and appropriate research and development responses.
The ASEB will draw upon other elements of the NRC, as appropriate, in conducting this study. A final report will be issued at the end of the study.
