Engineering360: "NASA Proves Nuclear Fission System Fit to Fly"

What is the cost of a 10 kW KRUSTY and what is its useability on Earth? How is it beneficial to a SpacePlace or Kids Space environments?

What is the purpose of a Deep Space Mission using Nuclear Fission to find a location for KRUSTY to provide 10kW of power to look for and obtain water in outer space for a Space Station?

I hope there is a prototype somewhere racking up as many hours as possible so we can find out if the [more?] complex stirling engine has any unknown [early?] breakdown modes. Piston seals? Knuckle bearings?

Sodium heat pipes may also have a corrosion limited operating lifespan. Is there a current application that shows us how long these things operate without leaking?

Im all for the stated application. But if power goes down on a space ship or space station or exo-colony, life support lasts...as long as the batteries.

Reliability Engineers will earn their wings on this project. Get your combs out and start looking for what was overlooked. I will sign up to help.