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Contracts also signed by companies in US

Source: Nucnet
Date: Saturday, 21 October 2023
Original article: nucnet.org/news/framatome-launches-new-brand-in-bid-to-play-decisive-role-10-5-2023

US-based BWX Technologies (BWXT) has been contracted to develop the reactor and fuel for the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA’s) Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO), which will use nuclear thermal propulsion. As part of a team led by Lockheed Martin, BWXT Advanced Technologies is to complete final design of the nuclear reactor, manufacture the reactor’s hardware and fuel, assemble the components and deliver the fuelled reactor as a complete subsystem.

Source: NEI Magazine
Date: Wednesday, 16 August 2023
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsbwxt-reactor-and-fuel-selected-for-darpa-space-project-11074621

The USA's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has finalised an agreement with Lockheed Martin to begin work on the fabrication and design of an experimental nuclear thermal rocket and its engine. BWX Technologies, one of Lockheed Martin's partners in the effort, will develop the nuclear reactor and fabricate the HALEU fuel.

Source: World Nuclear News
Date: Thursday, 27 July 2023
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/BWXT-to-begin-work-on-DRACO-engine-and-fuel

Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) has delivered uranium nitride coated uranium oxycarbide tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel to NASA's Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion programme. The company says this demonstrates the "flexibility, precision and value" of its Pilot Fuel Manufacturing Facility (PFM).

Source: World Nuclear News
Date: Thursday, 15 June 2023
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/USNC-delivers-TRISO-particle-fuel-to-NASA

US-based Westinghouse Electric Company and Astrobotic have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore collaboration on space technology programmes for NASA and the Department of Defense. The focus will be on space nuclear technology and delivery systems and will also include strengthening the space nuclear supply chain and workforce in the Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia regions.

Source: NEI Magazine
Date: Thursday, 08 June 2023
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newswestinghouse-and-astrobotic-to-collaborate-on-space-technology-10918933

Westinghouse Electric Company and lunar landers and rovers developer Astrobotic have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore collaboration on space technology programmes for NASA and the US Department of Defense.

Source: World Nuclear News
Date: Saturday, 03 June 2023
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Westinghouse,-Astrobotic-team-up-on-space-projects

NASA and the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are to collaborate on development of advanced nuclear thermal propulsion technology for rocket engines. NASA and DARPA will partner on the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) programme with a view to enabling NASA crewed missions to Mars.

Source: NEI Magazine
Date: Friday, 27 January 2023
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsnasa-and-darpa-to-develop-nuclear-rocket-engines-10546261

The USA's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are to collaborate on developing and demonstrating a nuclear thermal rocket engine in space by 2027.

Source: World Nuclear News
Date: Thursday, 26 January 2023
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/NASA-to-test-nuclear-nuclear-rocket-engine-for-man

The UK Space Agency and the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) are to collaborate on the world's first space battery powered by americium-241. The isotope will be extracted from used nuclear fuel stored at the Sellafield site in Cumbria.

Source: World Nuclear News
Date: Tuesday, 13 December 2022
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/NNL-to-develop-americium-powered-space-batteries

40-kW system planned to last at least 10 years in lunar environment A demonstration of fission systems on the Moon would pave the way for long-duration missions on the Moon and Mars. Courtesy Nasa. US Space agency Nasa has chosen three companies to provide an initial design concept for a fission surface power system that could be ready to launch to the Moon by the end of the decade.

The companies are Pennsylvania-based Westinghouse Electric Company; Maryland-based Lockheed Martin; and Texas-based X, a joint venture of Intuitive Machines and X-Energy.

The 12-month contracts are valued at $5m each and will fund the development of initial design concepts for a 40-kW class fission power system planned to last at least 10 years in the lunar environment.

Nasa said fission systems, which are relatively small and lightweight compared to other power systems, could enable continuous power regardless of location, available sunlight, and other natural environmental conditions. A demonstration of such systems on the Moon would pave the way for long-duration missions on the Moon and Mars.

Source: Nucnet
Date: Tuesday, 12 July 2022
Original article: nucnet.org/news/nasa-chooses-three-companies-to-produce-concepts-for-fission-surface-power-system-7-1-2022

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