Nuclear Thermal Propulsion: Past Accomplishments, Present Efforts, and a Look Ahead

Abstract

AbstractThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) has been actively involved in nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) technology development, mission, engine, and vehicle design dating back to the Rover and Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Applications programs. This technology was successfully developed in over 20 rocket/reactor tests, which demonstrated a wide range of thrust levels, high-temperature fuel, sustained engine operation, accumulated time at full power, and restart capability—everything required for a human mission to Mars. Furthermore, NTP requires no large technology scale-up. The smallest engine tested during the Rover program—the Pewee Engine—is sufficient for this when used in a clustered engine arrangement. The GRC has led every major study involving NTP since the late 1980s and has helped quantify the evolution and growth potential of the nuclear thermal rocket (NTR), which includes the bimodal and liquid-oxygen- (LOX-) augmented NTR concepts. In...