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Game Changing Development

Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP)

Completed Technology Project

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Project Description

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Part of NASA's Game Changing Development Program, the Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) project could indeed significantly change space travel, largely due to its ability to accelerate a large amount of propellant out of the back of a rocket at very high speeds, resulting in a highly efficient, high-thrust engine. In comparison, a nuclear thermal rocket has double the propulsion efficiency of the Space Shuttle main engine, one of the hardest-working standard chemical engines of the past 40 years. That capability makes nuclear thermal propulsion ideal for delivering large, automated payloads to distant worlds.

The goal of the Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) technology development task is to determine the feasibility and affordability of using low enriched uranium (LEU) to power engines on a space transportation vehicle with solid cost and schedule confidence. This effort leverages government, industry and academic expertise to establish a conceptual design for a nuclear-powered rocket engine in the thrust range of interest for a human Mars mission.

Anticipated Benefits

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Nuclear propulsion technology enables missions where solar-powered and chemical systems are limited. Faster transit propulsion for planetary missions combined with lowest total mission mass compared to chemical and solar electric. Improves crew safety. Nuclear propulsion technology provides a high-thrust, high-specific impulse capability that increases mission flexibility in cis-lunar space.

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Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners

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Organizations Performing Work	Role	Type	Location
Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)	Lead Organization	NASA Center	Huntsville, Alabama
ACENT Laboratories LLC	Supporting Organization	Industry	Manorville, New York
Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.	Supporting Organization	Industry	Jupiter, Florida
Glenn Research Center (GRC)	Supporting Organization	NASA Center	Cleveland, Ohio
Idaho National Laboratory (INL)	Supporting Organization	FFRDC/UARC	Idaho Falls, Idaho
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)	Supporting Organization	FFRDC/UARC	Los Alamos, New Mexico
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)	Supporting Organization	FFRDC/UARC	Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Quest Thermal Group	Supporting Organization	Industry	Arvada, Colorado
Stennis Space Center (SSC)	Supporting Organization	NASA Center	Stennis Space Center, Mississippi
Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation-Technologies	Supporting Organization	Industry	Seattle, Washington
Ultramet	Supporting Organization	Industry	Pacoima, California

Primary U.S. Work Locations

Alabama
California
Colorado
Florida
Idaho
Mississippi
New Mexico
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Virginia
Washington

Technology Transitions

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Transition Events

January 2016: Project Start

April 2020: Closed out More »

Project Management

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Technology Maturity (TRL)

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Start:	2
Current:	3
Estimated End:	3

Applied Research

Development

Demo & Test

Technology Areas

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Primary:

TX01 Propulsion Systems

TX01.4 Advanced Propulsion
TX01.4.3 Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

Other / Cross-Cutting:

TX01 Propulsion Systems

TX01.2 Electric Space Propulsion

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Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP)

Project Description

Anticipated Benefits

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Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners

Primary U.S. Work Locations

Technology Transitions

Transition Events

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