It’s also similar to the concept of nuclear thermal propulsion, but instead of using heat from a nuclear reaction, it relies on externally-supplied laser energy. A recent paper suggests such a ...

The tests showed the fuel can withstand the harsh conditions of a nuclear thermal propulsion reactor. In other words, it has the capability to one day power a nuclear rocket that could fire humans ...

A new type of nuclear thermal propulsion reactor fuel has been successfully tested at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, with hopes that the fuel could take humans to Mars in the not-too ...

For NASA, sending a crewed mission to Mars has been the long-term goal for over two decades. China has joined the club in ...

“We are finally at the cusp for both nuclear electric propulsion and nuclear thermal propulsion,” said Kristin Houston, president of space propulsion and power systems at L3Harris Technologies.

Nuclear thermal propulsion, or NTP, is a potentially game-changing technology for NASA's crewed missions to Mars in the 2040 timeframe. NTP engines use a nuclear reactor to heat hydrogen to ultra ...

Portal Space Systems has raised $17.5 million to accelerate the development of a space vehicle with a solar thermal ...

The key technology for the vehicle is its STP system, which provides performance similar to that proposed for nuclear thermal propulsion systems, but by using sunlight, rather than a nuclear ...

From concept to reality, the Advanced Technologies team designs, builds and tests new nuclear solutions–from powering electricity and thermal heat in remote locations to rocket propulsion and ...

Nuclear propulsion could have a leg up on chemical propulsion for a few reasons. Taylor Wilson, Teenage Nuclear Scientist, Redesigns Nuclear Power Not satisfied with being the youngest person to ...