Electric Propulsion for a Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft

Nuclear microreactors could improve the performance of electric propulsion systems in spacecraft.

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

To develop spacecraft that can “maneuver without regret,” the U.S. Space Force is providing $35 million to a national research team, including engineers at the University of Washington. It will be the first to bring fast chemical rockets together with efficient electric propulsion powered by a nuclear microreactor.

The newly formed Space Power and Propulsion for Agility, Responsiveness and Resilience (SPAR) Institute involves eight universities, and 14 industry partners and advisers in one of the nation's largest efforts to advance space power and propulsion.