DARPA believes that nuclear-powered propulsion could enable rapid maneuver in space — a capability that is difficult to achieve with current electric and chemical propulsion systems. (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)

Pentagon taps industry for nuclear-powered propulsion for its satellites

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.

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Ilustration of a conceptual spacecraft enabled by nuclear thermal propulsion. Credit: NASA

Space Force sees ‘advantages and opportunities’ in nuclear-powered space missions

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 —

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