Nuclear propulsion for space-bound rockets wasn’t science fiction even in the 1960s, and 60 years later multiple programs are rediscovering this promising technology. By Mark Lewis, Published by Breaking Defense, 22 September 2021 As humanity gets closer and closer to leaving footprints on Mars, questions remain about the best way
By Nathan Strout, Published by C4ISRNET, 10 September 2021 WASHINGTON — The Department of Defense is looking to industry for nuclear-powered propulsion technology to drive its spacecraft, freeing them from the low-energy limitations of current electric and solar-based propulsion systems. Those traditional systems have largely served government space systems well.
![Electron’s fury: more than 200 of Rocket Lab’s Rutherford engines have flown to space, and soon the company will start trying to bring them back to fly again [Photo courtesy of Rocket Lab]](https://space4peace.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/electrons_fury.jpg)
Published by Al Jazeera, 9 August 2021 Rocket Lab’s founder talks to Al Jazeera about moon shots, deep space exploration and overcoming dream crushers. Rocket Lab is back in business. And that’s good news for the company’s deep space ambitions. The United States-based small satellite launcher suffered an in-flight anomaly
By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 30 July 2021 RSA won an SBIR contract funded by the Space Force to design a spacecraft with a solar-thermal propulsion system. WASHINGTON — A startup under contract to the U.S. Space Force is investigating the use of solar-powered vehicles for operations in
By Sandra Erwin, Published by SpaceNews, 28 July 2021 Thompson: Nuclear propulsion 'holds the potential for significant advantages in terms of efficiency compared to standard chemical rockets' WASHINGTON — Space vehicles powered by small nuclear reactors — a technology that NASA believes could help get humans to Mars faster —
By Theresa Hitchins, Published by Breaking Defense, 4 June 2021 The largest of the four categories is called "Develop A Warfighter Punch" and includes $279 million for classified programs. WASHINGTON: The Space Force is asking Congress for $832 million in extra funds for 2022, including $279 million in unspecified classified
By Karl Grossman, Published by CounterPunch, 3 June 2021 “BACK TO THE FUTURE NASA’S NEW NUCLEAR VISION” was the headline emblazoned on the cover this past month of the leading U.S. aerospace trade publication, Aviation Week & Space Technology. “More than sixty years after the U.S. began serious studies into
By Theresa Hitchens, Published by Breaking Defense, 19 April 2021 WASHINGTON: DARPA’s effort to develop nuclear ‘engines’ for far-roving satellites also hopes to demonstrate the capability to keep “timely” tabs on spacecraft operating near the Moon, says program manager Maj. Nathan Greiner. While cislunar surveillance doesn’t require nuclear-propulsion, such a
