NASA looks to revive nuclear rocket development with BWXT contract

Part of NASA's Game Changing Development (GCD) Programme, the $18.8m contract will see Virginia-based BWX Technology initiate the design of a reactor to power a nuclear thermal promotion (NTP) system for a future crewed mission to Mars. The project, which is expected to run through 2019 subject to Congressional approval, aims to develop a reactor fuelled by low enriched uranium; that is, with a uranium-235 concentration below 20 per cent.

NTP technology is seen as having great potential for long distance space exploration. It uses a nuclear reactor to heat an inert fuel — most likely to be liquid hydrogen — to high temperatures and expel it from a rocket nozzle.

Theoretically, an NTP engine can deliver twice the specific impulse of the best chemical rocket engine, with half of the liftoff mass: payload mass could therefore be doubled or tripled.

“That capability makes nuclear thermal propulsion ideal for delivering large, automated payloads to distant worlds,” NASA said.