Three American companies received contracts to design nuclear-powered spacecraft

The United States began developing nuclear-powered spacecraft, and three American companies received contracts. SpaceNews reports this.

The Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded contracts to Intuitive Machines, Lockheed Martin and Westinghouse Government Services to develop technologies for nuclear-powered spacecraft. The project is part of AFRL's Spacecraft Directorate program, Joint Emergent Technology Supply On Orbital Nuclear Power (JETSON), to build small nuclear reactors that can be used in a variety of satellites and other spacecraft. In addition, they are planned to be used as part of the lunar program.

All three companies were selected back in June 2022, each with their own focus. Thus, the startup Intuitive Machines must develop the concept of a spacecraft with a radioisotope power system, electric or hybrid engine. Westinghouse Government Services will develop technology, analysis, research and study strategies to reduce the risks of implementing a "powerful nuclear fission system" from a "subsystem, spacecraft and architecture" perspective.

Lockheed Martin Space was awarded a contract to bring the technical design of the JETSON spacecraft systems and subsystems to pre-design verification and full overall program development. All three projects should be ready by December 2025

At the end of July this year, NASA and the Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency selected Lockheed Martin's DRACO nuclear engine for the spacecraft being developed.

Comments

[Nexcom]

What device is in the photo? Is this really the same space trampoline made in America?

[Aaron Zawi]

Well, nuclear-powered rockets may be an interesting attempt, but the idea of ​​nuclear-powered satellites is something to kill for.

[Kotofeich]

Aaron, what kind of idea is this? And why does a satellite need a nuclear engine?

[shikin]

Today, a nuclear engine can theoretically be used only in space - low thrust, high specific impulse, long operating time, large mass. Use in launch vehicles, if possible, would be with an open flow core, which would lead to extensive contamination of the atmosphere, if that’s what you meant.

[zxc15682]

The photo shows a Sterling engine.......

[Blackmokona]

Quote: Nexcom

What device is in the photo? Is this really the same space trampoline made in America? laughing

Kilopower (also KRUSTY - Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology[1]) is a NASA project to create a nuclear reactor for placement on spacecraft[2] and intended for operation on the surface of the Moon and Mars, where the use of solar energy is difficult or not possible[3 ][4]. Kilopower reactors must have different powers - from 1 to 10 kW and produce electricity for 10 years or more[5]. A special feature of the device is its ability to increase or decrease its power and thus generate large amounts of energy, unlike RTGs[6].

[Romario_Argo]

The British from Pulsar Fusion went further, unlike the Americans
They are developing a thermonuclear rocket engine and it will also be used as a reactor

anyone interested, here was an article on VO
https://topwar.ru/221315-pulsar-fusion-i-princeton-satellite-systems-razrabotajut-termojadernyj-raketnyj-dvigatel.html

[vargo]

With the same success, you can go even further and develop a light engine. But the fact so far is that the British do not have a ready-made technology for a payable thermonuclear reactor, and without it their work is just trying to come up with something without a key link.

[Romario_Argo]

in general, everyone has all the military equipment and technologies that do not pay for themselves
Civil projects are growing from these technologies - which are already paying off
or shelved until better times

[Mavrikiy]

The United States has begun developing nuclear-powered spacecraft, contracts three American companies received it at once.

Well, there is a printing press, but Nabiullina doesn’t, so you can work...

[Romario_Argo]

Nabiullina’s is cooler - digital ruble - you don’t even need to print anything

[opuonmed]

it envisages the creation of small nuclear reactors that can be used in various satellites and other spacecraft. In addition, they are planned to be used as part of the lunar program.

and a hyper with nuclear missiles can carry a strike from space, then no one is waiting! and well done if they succeed with a nuclear engine to conquer the moon to build space bases, etc., etc. !

[Rumata]

A Brief History of Nuclear Propulses.
I once worked on this topic.

https://www.forbes.ru/mneniya/493679-draco-v-kosmose-zacem-v-nasa-sozdaut-adernyj-dvigatel

[Sergey39]

We were criticized and “put a spoke in the wheels” for the development of the Nucleon-Zeus nuclear transport energy module, but they themselves followed in our footsteps and as many as three companies were entrusted with the development of an analogue.

[vargo]

It's a classic. If the United States doesn’t like something that any country is doing technically/scientifically, it means they are simply lagging behind in this and want to somehow slow down someone else’s success until they catch up themselves

[Ulan.1812]

I don’t understand anything, why do I keep getting messages that I need to log in?
This is something new? And I can’t give ratings.

[opuonmed]

By the way, where is the Boeing X-37 flying??? and other US devices