by Add the Defense Innovation Unit to a growing list of US government organizations accelerating their work in nuclear energy.
The organization, which aims to prepare the military for use of emerging commercial products, announced two prototype contracts on May 17 “to demonstrate next-generation nuclear propulsion and energy capability for spacecraft.” The ultimate goal is an orbital flight demonstration in 2027, DIU officials said in a statement (opens in new tab)†
The contracts went to two companies, Ultra Safe Nuclear and Avalanche Energy, to demonstrate nuclear propulsion and energy capabilities for small spacecraft that would operate in cislunar (Earth-moon) space. (The values of the contracts were not disclosed in the release.)
It’s part of the U.S. military’s urgent focus on cislunary activities to keep an eye on commercial and government activities that will increase there in the coming decades, including the international NASA-led Artemis program that aims to put people on the moon. set in the 2020s.
Related: The Most Dangerous Space Weapons Concepts Ever
If all goes according to plan, Ultra Safe Nuclear will demonstrate EmberCore, a rechargeable nuclear radioisotope battery useful for propulsion and power supply.
“This ‘next-gen’ radioisotope system will be able to scale to 10 times higher power levels compared to plutonium systems, delivering more than 1 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy in just a few kilograms of fuel,” DIU stated.
Avalanche Energy’s Orbitron attempts to trap fusion ions in electrostatic fields, using a microwave to keep the electrons closer to their nuclei (atomic nuclei) than is normally possible.
“The resulting fusion combustion then produces the energetic particles that generate heat or electricity, which can power a high-efficiency propulsion system,” DIU said. “Compared to other fusion concepts, Orbitron devices hold great promise for space applications because they can be scaled down and they can be used as both propulsion and power sources.”
Another military organization seeking nuclear nuclear technology is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). On May 4, the organization announced it is ready to move forward with a project to design, develop and assemble a nuclear thermal rocket engine for an expected flight demonstration in orbit by 2026.
The proposals will support DARPA’s Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program, which aims to develop a nuclear thermal propulsion system (NTP) for use in Earth-Moon space.
NTP uses fission reactors to heat hydrogen or other propellants and shoot them from nozzles for thrust, generating a thrust-to-weight ratio 10,000 times higher than electric propulsion systems. It also improves chemical missiles, as the propulsion efficiency (specific impulse) of NTPs is about two to five times higher, DARPA officials wrote in a description of the DRACO program. (opens in new tab)†
NASA is also investigating NTPs. Such systems could get astronauts to Mars in half the time than current propulsion systems (which would take six to nine months). NASA’s 2023 Fiscal Bill, Not Yet Approved by Congress, Includes $15 Million (opens in new tab) to support nuclear propulsion, and NASA is also collaborating on the DRACO project.
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