Gary L. Bennett Papers, 1963-2008

Overview of the Collection

Title
Gary L. Bennett Papers
Dates
1963-2008 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 linear feet, (4 boxes)
Collection Number
MSS 136
Summary
The Gary L. Bennett papers consist chiefly of technical papers Bennett wrote during his career as a physicist with the Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and other federal agencies. Most relate to nuclear power and space propulsion. A number of articles for popular science magazines and two video cassettes of briefings by Bennett are also included.
Repository
Boise State University Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
1910 University Drive
Boise ID
83725
Telephone: 2084263990
archives@boisestate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is available for research.

Languages
English

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Gary L. Bennett papers consist chiefly of technical papers Bennett wrote during his career as a physicist with the Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and other federal agencies. Most relate to nuclear power and space propulsion. A number of articles for popular science magazines and two video cassettes of briefings by Bennett are also included.

A graduate of Boise Junior College (1960), Dr. Bennett received his bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Idaho and a PhD. in physics from Washington State University. He was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Boise State University in 1990. He retired and returned to Idaho in 1995. Besides his technical articles, Dr. Bennett has written a novel, The Star Sailors, published in 1980.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Gary L. Bennett was born January 17, 1940 in Twin Falls, Idaho. As a teenager he co-founded the Boise Rocket Research Society. Later, Dr. Bennett earned his Associate of Arts degree in science from Boise State University and a doctoral degree in Nuclear Physics from Washington State University in 1970. He went on to help develop power systems for the Voyager, Galileo and Ulysses space systems for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Starting with NASA in 1988, Gary Bennett worked as manager of the Advanced Space Propulsion Systems in the Transportation Division of the office of Advanced Concepts and Technology at NASA and served as program manager of NASA's nuclear propulsion technology program. Before working at NASA Dr. Bennett worked with the United States Department of Energy space radioisotope power program.

Mr. Bennett has written dozens of science fiction articles and is also a science fiction author, publishing The Star Sailors in 1980. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from BSU in 1990.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[item description], Gary L. Bennett Papers, Box [number] Folder [number], Boise State University Special Collections and Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

A chronological listing of publications (in reverse order), a detailed vita, and news clippings accompany the collection in the first folders of Box 1. Dr. Bennett's articles are filed alphabetically by title.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mr.Gary L. Bennett, 1995.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1 Biographical
1 2 Gary L. Bennet Newsclippings 1996-2011
1 3 Listing of publications of Gary L. Bennett, 1964-1994
1 4 Advancing the State of the Art without Violating the Laws of Physics 1995
4 19 Aerospace test Power 1996
1 5 Aerospace Power 1991
1 6 Aerospace Power 1992
1 7 Aerospace Power 1995
4 9 Aerospace Power 1997
1 8 Analyzing the United Nations Principles on the use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space 1993
1 9 Applications of Nuclear Propulsion to Mars Missions 1991
1 10 Arcjet Technology Provides Revolutionary Propulsion Breakthrough 1994
1 11 Back to the Future = Using Nuclear Propulsion to go to Mars 1991
1 12 Boundary Conditions on faster-than-light Transportations Systems 1993
1 13 Cosmic Origins of the Elements 1988
1 14 Development and Implementation of a Space Nuclear Space Program 1988
1 15 Development and use of Nuclear Power Sources for Space Applications 1981
1 16 Development and use of the Galileo and Ulysses Power Sources 1994
1 17 The Dynamic Isotope Power System Technology Program 1988
1 18 The Dynamic Isotope Power System: Technology Status and Demonstration Program 1989
4 18 Electrical Power for Spacecraft: Opinions and Issues Part 1. Solar Power and Energy Storage 1997
4 13 Electrical Power for Spacecraft: Opinions and Issues Part 2. Nuclear Power and Power Management 1997
4 14 Electrical Power System Development: A Companion Technology to Electric Propulsion 1997
4 7 Electrical Power Technologies for Spacecraft: Options and Issues 1998
1 19 Enabling the Space Exploration Initiative: NASA's Exploration Technology Program in Space Power 1991
1 20 Encounter with Uranus 1985
1 21 Enhancing Access to Space: NASA's Advanced Space Transportation Program 1994
1 22 Enhancing Space Transportation: The NASA Program to Develop Electric Propulsion 1990
1 23 Enhancing U.S. Competitiveness: The NASA Electric Propulsion Program 1994
1 24 Evaluating Aeroshell Material for the MJs/Multi-Hundred Watt Heat Source 1976
4 5 An Evolutionary Strategy for Space Nuclear Power 1996
1 25 Experimental Results of Potentially Destructive Reactivity Additions to an Oxide Core 1964
1 26 Exploring the Solar System 1992
1 27 Flight Safety Review Process for Space Nuclear Power Sources 1987
1 28 Future NASA Mission Applications of Space Nuclear Power 1990
1 29 The Galileo Mission: Exploration of Jupiter 1986
1 30 The General-Purpose Heat Source Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator: Power for the Galileo and Ulysses Missions 1986
1 31 Heretical Science: Beyond the Boundaries of Pathological Science 1994
4 22 Historical Flight Qualifications of Space Nuclear Systems 1997
1 32 Historical Overview of the U.S. use of Space Nuclear Power 1989
1 33 Hot Prospects for Space Thermoelectric Power 1991
1 34 Ion Engines for our Mission to Neptune 1984
1 35 Interstellar Transportation: An Enabling Technology for Interstellar Civilizations 1993
1 36 Journey Into Tomorrow: NASA's Future Space Power Requirements 1991
4 8 Lessons of Space Nuclear Power 1998
1 37 Light Water Reactor Safety Research in the United States 1977
1 38 A Look at Soviet Space Nuclear Program 1989
1 39 A Look at the Hairy Star 1986
4 11 Low Risk, High Gain 1997
4 10 Maintain Nuclear Powered Exploration 1998
1 40 Maintenance of the U.S. Space Nuclear Power Program 1995
2 1 Managing for Success: Examples and Observations from the GPHS-RTG Program 1993
4 25 Mission Focus: Successful Management Practices on the Galileo and Ulysses Radioisotope Power Sources Program 1996
2 2 Mission of Daring: The General Purpose Heat Source Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator 2006
2 3 Modification of RF Oscillator for High Pressure Operation 1969
2 4 The NASA Advanced Propulsion Concepts Program 1989
2 5 NASA Advanced Space Photovoltaic Technology-Status, Potential and Future Mission Applications 1989
2 6 The NASA Electric Propulsion Program 1993
2 7 The NASA Low Thrust Propulsion Program 1989
2 8 NASA Mission Planning for Space Nuclear Power 1991
2 9 NASA Program Planning on Nuclear Electric Propulsion 1992
2 10 The NASA Program on Nuclear Propulsion: Preparing for the Future 1993
2 11 The NASA Program to develop Advanced Propulsion 1990
2 12 The NASA Research and Technology Program on Batteries 1990
2 13 The NASA Research and Technology Program on Space Power- a key element of the Space Exploration Initiative 1991
2 14 NASA's Space Platform Technology Program and Planning 1994
2 15 The NASA Space Power Program: A Time of Transition 1993
4 1 The New Millennium Program 1996
2 16 The 1981 United Nations Report: An Historical Consensus on the safe use of Nuclear Power sources in Space 1992
2 17 NRC Water-Reactor Safety-Research Program 1977
4 12 Nuclear Power: Key to Exploring the Universe 1997
2 18 Nuclear Power Sources for Space Applications 1980
2 19 Nuclear Propulsion: A key transportation Technology for the exploration of Mars 1991
2 20 Nuclear Propulsion for Space Exploration 1992
2 21 Nuclear Safety Criteria and Specifications for Space Nuclear Reactors 1982
2 22 Nuclear Thermal Propulsion: Mission Utilization, Accomplishments and Mission Benefits 1994
2 23 Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Program Overthrow 1990
2 24 The Oast Space Power Program 1991
2 25 On the Application of Nuclear Fission to Space Power 1989
2 26 On the Development of the Power Sources for the Ulysses and Galileo Missions 1989
2 27 Outward Bound: Summary of the U.S. use of Space Nuclear Power 1995
4 16 An Overview of Electric Power: A Key Technology for Electric Propulsion 1997
2 28 An Overview of NASA's Electric Propulsion Program 1993
2 29 Overview of NASA's Electronic Propulsion Program 1994
2 30 An Overview of NASA's Projected Mission Requirements for Space Nuclear Systems 1993
2 31 Overview of NASA's Space Transportation Research and Technology Program: The Focus on Propulsion 1993
2 32 An Overview of the NASA Advanced Propulsion Concepts Program 1992
2 33 An Overview of the NASA Electric Propulsion Program 1991
2 34 Overview of the U.S. Flight Safety Process for Space Nuclear Power 1981
2 35 The Past as Prologue: A look at Historical Flight Qulifications for Space Nuclear Systems 1992
2 36 The "Pathological Science" Syndrome: A concern for Energy Science 1993
2 37 Performance of the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators on the Galileo and Ulysses Mission 1993
2 38 Plan for Research to Improve the Safety of Light-water Nuclear Power Plants 1978
2 39 Planning for the Space Exploration Initiative: The Nuclear Propulsion Option 1991
2 40 Possible Applications of Advanced Quantum/Relativity Theory Propulsion to Interstellar Exploration 1995
2 41 Power for Spacecraft: The Nuclear Option 1983
2 42 Power Performance of the General-Purpose Heat Source Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator 1987
4 2 Power Performance of U.S. Space Radioisotope Thermometric Generators 1996
2 43 Power Sources for the Galileo and Ulysses Missions 1994
2 44 Powering the Space Exploration Initiative: NASA Future Space Power Requirements and Issues 1991
2 45 Prelude to the Future: A Brief History of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion in the United States 1994
4 3 Preparing for the next Millennium: Report of the Sixth Annual Advanced Space Propulsion System Workshop 1996
4 4 Preserving the Nuclear Option: The AIAA Position Paper on Space Nuclear Power 1996
2 46 Program Managment 1995
2 47 Progress Report on Nuclear Propulsion for Space Exploration and Science 1993
2 48 Proposed Principles on the use of Nuclear Power Sources in Space 1988
2 49 Propulsion and Energy, Aerospace America 1996-1998
2 50 Quality Assurance in NRC Research Programs 1980
2 51 Radioisotope Power Sources for Defense Space Applications 1986
4 28 Reaching the Outer Planets with or without the U.N. 1996
2 52 Rendezous with a Star 1987
2 53 Rendezvous with a Star 1990
2 54 Projected NASA Power Requirements for Space Science and Exploration Missions 1992
3 1 Report of Department of Energy's Assessment Team on Nuclear Power Sources for BSTS Mission 1987
3 2 Report on the NASA/JPL Workshop on Advanced Quantum/Relativity Theory Propulsion 1995
3 3 Report to the Next Generation: Status of NASA's Nuclear Propulsion Technology Program 1994
3 4 Return to Jupiter 1987
3 5 Safety Aspects of Thermoelectrics in Space 1995
3 6 Safety Aspects of Thermoelectrics in Space 1995
3 7 The Safety Review and Approval Process for Space Nuclear Power Sources 1991
3 8 Safety Review Process for Space Nuclear Power Source undated
3 9 Safety Status of Space Radioisotope and Reactor Power Sources 1990
3 10 Same Initial Final Reaction Mechanisms 1970
4 15 Some Observations on Avoiding Pitfalls in Developing Future Flight Systems 1997
3 11 Soviet Space Nuclear Reactor Incidents: perception Versus Reality 1992
3 12 Space Applications 1995
3 13 Space Applications 1995
3 14 Space Nuclear Electric Power Systems 1980
3 15 Space Nuclear Power: key to Outer Solar System Exploration 1995
3 16 Space Nuclear Power: A Status Review 1995
3 17 Space Power Needs into the 21st Century 1990
4 6 Spacecraft Power and Propulsion: A Synergism of Technologies 1996
3 18 Stargate, Fact or Fiction 1995
4 29 Stargate: Fact or Fiction 1995
3 19 Status of Nuclear QA Standards 1980
3 20 Status Report on Performance of Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators Using Silicon Geranium Thermoelectric Elements 1994
3 21 Status Report on the U.S. Space Nuclear Program 1995
4 20 Status Report on the U.S. Space Nuclear Program 1996
4 26 A Suggested Technical Approach to the Evolutionary Development of Advanced Space Nuclear Power Systems 1996
4 17 A Suggested Technical Approach to the Evolutionary Development of Advanced Space Nuclear Power Systems 1998
3 22 Summary of Fire Protection Research 1979
3 23 Summary of LWR Safety Research in the United States of America 1977
4 23 Summary of the NASA/JPL Workshop on Advanced Quantum/Relativity Theory Propulsion 1997
3 24 Summary of NRC LWR Safety Research Programs on Fuel Behavior 1979
4 24 Summary of the U.S. Ad-Hoc Working Group Meeting on Revising the U.N. Principles on the use of Nuclear Power Sources in Power Sources in Outer Space 1996
3 25 Survivability Considerations in the Design of Space Power Systems 1988
4 21 The Synergy of Spacecraft Electric Propulsion and Power 1997
3 26 A Technical Review of the U.N. Principles on the use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space 1995
4 27 Technologies for Spacecraft Electric Power Systems (and Preface) 1996
3 27 Technology and Applications of Space Nuclear Power 1991
3 28 Technology Development of Dynamic Isotope Power Systems for Space Applications 1987
3 29 Thursting Toward Application: An Overview of NASA's Electric Propulsion Program 1994
3 30 Toward the Last Frontier: A Strategy for the Evolutionary Development of Space Nuclear Power Systems 1992
3 31 Trends in Space Power 1990
3 32 Update to the Safety Program for the General-Purpose Heat Source Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators for the Galileo and Ulysses Missions 1992
3 33 United States Deliberations on the use of Nuclear Power Sources in Space: 1978-1987 1989
3 34 U.S. Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators in Space 1984
3 35 Use of Nuclear Reactors in Space 1983
3 36 Vetran Voyager Viewing Uranus 1986
3 37 Voyage into the Third Dimension 1987
3 38 Voyager 2: Encounter with Uranus 1985
3 39 Warp Drive and the Hyperspace Bypass 1994
4 Idaho Public Television Series Dialogue 4 Kids: Planets (DVD) 2008
4 Briefings by Gary Bennett (VHS) 1986-1992
4 Briefings by Gary Bennett (VHS) 1993-1994
4 Evolution: A Scientist's Perspective (VHS) 2004

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Nuclear propulsion
  • Science
  • Space vehicles--Propulsion systems

Corporate Names

  • United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Mitzi Hambleton Wortham
1995, updated 2017; updated 2023

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