SNAP 8 Reactor Bearing Development

Abstract

The SNAP 8 reactor bearings are designed to provide low-friction self-lubrication at 1150 F while in the environment of a nuclear reactor operating in space. A four-phase program is described that has successfully developed these low-speed, oscillating bearings. Phase One was the study and screen testing of static adhesion of bearing materials. Phase Two was the study and screen testing of bearing materials in sliding couple. Phase Three was the application of the bearing materials into bearing designs where prototypes were fabricated and tested. And Phase Four was the optimizing and testing of the final designs for reactor ground test in “poor” vacuum (10⁻⁵ torr), and simulated space—ultrahigh clean vacuum (10⁻⁹ torr). Results of shock and vibration tests are also presented.