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Related Topic: Space

USNC-Tech develops deep space propulsion system

USNC-Tech develops deep space propulsion system

Ultra Safe Nuclear Technologies - a subsidiary of Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation - has developed a design concept as part of NASA-funded research into nuclear thermal propulsion systems for potential use in deep space travel. The concept uses a specialised variation of USNC's proprietary fully ceramic microencapsulated, tristructural isotropic fuel, developed for use in power reactors.

New Nuclear 23 October 2020

US DOE extends cooperation with space agency

US DOE extends cooperation with space agency

The US Department of Energy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have agreed to extend their existing cooperation by a further 10 years. One area for continued cooperation is space nuclear power and propulsion.

New Nuclear 21 October 2020

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USNC-Tech develops deep space propulsion system

Gryphon to help develop HALEU-fuelled cislunar rocket

GA delivers HALEU-fuelled reactor concept for Mars mission

Nuclear power system delivered for Mars rover launch

US DOE extends cooperation with space agency

Nuclear and Stirling engines spur space exploration

NASA officials updated on nuclear thermal propulsion

INL seeks industry partners for lunar nuclear power system

Nuclear-powered rover takes off for Mars

Gryphon to help develop HALEU-fuelled cislunar rocket

Gryphon to help develop HALEU-fuelled cislunar rocket

Gryphon Technologies has been awarded a USD14 million task order by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to support its Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations programme. Specifically, Gryphon will support the development and demonstration of a high-assay, low-enriched uranium nuclear thermal propulsion system.

New Nuclear 30 September 2020

GA delivers HALEU-fuelled reactor concept for Mars mission

GA delivers HALEU-fuelled reactor concept for Mars mission

A design concept for a nuclear thermal propulsion reactor to power future astronaut missions to Mars has exceeded key performance parameters and optimised the reactor for manufacturability, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems has announced. The reactor's features include a compact core thanks to the use of high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel.

New Nuclear 17 September 2020

Nuclear-powered rover takes off for Mars

Nuclear-powered rover takes off for Mars

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover successfully launched today from Cape Canaveral in Florida. The rover, which will be powered by a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator developed at the US Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory, will land on Mars to begin exploration in February 2021.

New Nuclear 30 July 2020

INL seeks industry partners for lunar nuclear power system

INL seeks industry partners for lunar nuclear power system

Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, the managing and operating contractor for the US Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory, has issued a request for information on a fission surface power system that can be operated on the Moon.

New Nuclear 27 July 2020

Nuclear power system delivered for Mars rover launch

Nuclear power system delivered for Mars rover launch

The US Department of Energy has delivered the nuclear power system for the Perseverance rover for NASA's Mars 2020 mission which is due to launch next month. The Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator was fuelled, built and tested by DOE's national laboratories.

New Nuclear 12 June 2020

Mars 2020 rover gets radioisotope fuel

Mars 2020 rover gets radioisotope fuel

Fuelling of a radioisotope-based power system for NASA's Mars 2020 rover has begun. The Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator - or MMRTG - uses heat from the natural radioactive decay of plutonium-238 to generate electricity as well as maintaining the rover's systems at the proper operating temperatures.

New Nuclear 01 August 2019

NASA officials updated on nuclear thermal propulsion

NASA officials updated on nuclear thermal propulsion

BWX Technologies, Inc yesterday hosted officials from NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate for progress updates and technology demonstrations related to BWXT’s nuclear thermal propulsion programme.

New Nuclear 10 October 2018

Cosmic recycling

Cosmic recycling

Man has been sifting through trash for millennia, but the extraction of americium-241 waste from the UK's stockpile of civilian plutonium takes the exercise to a whole new dimension. Am-241 - a decay product of plutonium-241 - is the most prevalent isotope of americium in long-term stored plutonium and is currently considered to be waste.

Perspectives 21 July 2014