Space Nuclear Reactor Renaissance?

Artist’s idea of a Bimodal Nuclear Thermal Rocket in low Earth orbit.
Credit score: NASA

The nuclear energy sector is seeing resurgence in innovation, supported by new insurance policies and rising applied sciences.

BWX Applied sciences, Inc. (BWXT) is a significant provider of nuclear parts and gasoline to the U.S. authorities. As such, BWXT envisions a path ahead in two of the U.S. authorities’s high priorities: house exploration and nationwide safety.

Compact nuclear reactor

BWXT is at present constructing a compact nuclear reactor to be used by expeditionary crews on Mars and presumably even discover Jupiter’s moons by 2024.

Credit score: LANL/NASA

Revolutions in nuclear reactors come on the optimum time as the nice energy competitors evolves into house, in accordance with BWXT.

Go to this story by Rathna Muralidharan — a program director on the Lexington Institute — with a concentrate on international safety. Written for RealClearEnergy at:

https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2018/07/13/the_nuclear_reactor_renaissance_space_exploration_and_national_security_110313.html

For extra info on BWXT go to their web site at:

https://www.bwxt.com/what-we-do/nuclear-thermal-propulsion-ntp