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27 news articles found
Ultra Safe Nuclear Technologies (USNC-Tech) - a subsidiary of Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) - has developed a design concept as part of NASA-funded research into nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) 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.
- Source: World Nuclear News
- Date: Saturday, 24 October 2020
- Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/USNC-Tech-develops-deep-space-propulsion-system
The US Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have agreed to extend their existing cooperation by a further 10 years. One area for continued cooperation is space nuclear power and propulsion.
- Source: World Nuclear News
- Date: Thursday, 22 October 2020
- Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/US-DOE-extends-its-cooperation-with-space-agency
Gryphon Technologies has been awarded a USD14 million task order by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to support its Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) programme. Specifically, Gryphon will support the development and demonstration of a high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) system.
- Source: World Nuclear News
- Date: Thursday, 01 October 2020
- Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Gryphon-to-help-develop-HALEU-fuelled-cislunar-roc
A design concept for a nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) reactor to power future astronaut missions to Mars has exceeded key performance parameters and optimised the reactor for manufacturability, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has announced. The reactor's features include a compact core thanks to the use of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel.
- Source: World Nuclear News
- Date: Friday, 18 September 2020
- Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/GA-delivers-HALEU-fuelled-reactor-concept-for-Mars
The design was produced as part of a NASA-funded study. GA-EMS said its design exceeded the key performance parameters requested by NASA.
The reactor concept incorporates advancements in modern nuclear materials and manufacturing methods with experience from GA-EMS’s involvement on NASA Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Project Rover in the 1960s. Project Rover was one of the first programmes to demonstrate the feasibility of space-based nuclear thermal propulsion.
GA fabricated approximately six tonnes of the nuclear fuel kernels for the project. In 1965, the company was also directly involved in nuclear fuel testing and characterisation for the SNAP-10A reactor, the only US nuclear power reactor launched into space, which powered the satellite for 43 days. The fuel used for that reactor is the same fuel that has been used since the 1950s in General Atomics Triga reactors.
- Source: Nucnet
- Date: Wednesday, 16 September 2020
- Original article: nucnet.org/news/general-atomics-submits-nuclear-reactor-concept-for-missions-to-mars-9-2-2020
US-based General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has delivered a design concept of a Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) reactor to power future astronaut missions to Mars for a NASA-funded study.
- Source: NEI Magazine
- Date: Tuesday, 15 September 2020
- Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsnasa-studies-general-atomics-reactor-design-for-mars-missions-8132668
Milestones achieved within a recent two-week period demonstrate what nuclear technology is all about, what it is doing and can do for humanity, Agneta Rising, World Nuclear Association director general, said ahead of the Association's Strategic eForum 2020.
- Source: World Nuclear News
- Date: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
- Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Speech-Worlds-of-possibilities-with-nuclear-techno
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on 30 July launched the Perseverance Mars from Cape Canaveral in Florida. The rover is expected to land on Mars in February 2021. It will be powered by a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) developed at the Department of Energy's (DOE’s) Idaho National Laboratory (INL). NASA said the rover, was powered by the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 541 rocket. ULA is the only space launch provider certified to handle Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs), according to ULA president and CEO, Tory Bruno. NASA certifies the rocket, but NASA and DOE together certify the provider to carry a nuclear payload, he explained.
- Source: NEI Magazine
- Date: Tuesday, 04 August 2020
- Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsnasas-new-mars-rover-powered-by-rtgs-8059097
Battelle Energy Alliance (BEA), the managing and operating contractor for the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Idaho National Laboratory (INL), is seeking information from leaders in the nuclear and space industries to develop innovative technologies for a fission surface power (FSP) system that can be operated on the moon, INL said on 24 July. Responses are sought by 8 September, after which, INL will issue a request for proposal.
- Source: NEI Magazine
- Date: Saturday, 01 August 2020
- Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsus-to-develop-a-reactor-for-use-in-space-8055773
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 (MMRTG) developed at the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Idaho National Laboratory (INL), will land on Mars to begin exploration in February 2021.
- Source: World Nuclear News
- Date: Friday, 31 July 2020
- Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Nuclear-powered-rover-sets-off-for-Mars