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Division Spotlight
Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
Meeting Spotlight
2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
Latest Magazine Issues
Jun 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Smarter waste strategies: Helping deliver on the promise of advanced nuclear
At COP28, held in Dubai in 2023, a clear consensus emerged: Nuclear energy must be a cornerstone of the global clean energy transition. With electricity demand projected to soar as we decarbonize not just power but also industry, transport, and heat, the case for new nuclear is compelling. More than 20 countries committed to tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050. In the United States alone, the Department of Energy forecasts that the country’s current nuclear capacity could more than triple, adding 200 GW of new nuclear to the existing 95 GW by mid-century.
Technical Session
Wednesday, May 11, 2022|1:30–3:30PM EDT|Calypso
Session Chair:
Lee S. Mason (NASA)
Session Organizer:
Alternate Chairs:
Michael B. Smith (ORNL)
Mike Houts (NASA)
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Fusion Propulsion in 2022: Where We Are and Where We Are Going
Stephen Samples (Aerospace Corp.)
Paper
Ideas for Infusing OSAM into Nuclear Electric Propulsion Architectures
Julia Cline (NASA Langley Research Center), John Dorsey (NASA Langley Research Center), David Kang (NASA Langley Research Center), Bill Doggett (NASA Langley Research Center), Danette Allen (NASA Langley Research Center)
Mission Assurance for a Nuclear Thermal Propulsion First Flight Vehicle
Sophonias Teshome (Aerospace Corp.), Roland Duphily (Aerospace Corp.), Norman Lao (Aerospace Corp.)
Presented by Randy Bell (Aerospace Corp.)
Space Environment Neutron Production in Space Nuclear Reactors
W. Randy Bell (Aerospace Corp.), T. Paul O'Brien (Aerospace Corp.), Mark Looper (Aerospace Corp.), Eric Davis (Aerospace Corp.)
Aerogel Supported Fission Fragment Rocket Engine Core
Ryan Weed (Positron Dynamics), Matthew Horsley (LLNL), George Chapline (LLNL)
Material and Modal Analysis of the Rotating Cylinders and Turbine Blades of NASA's Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket
Tristan Carter (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center), Manav Dave (UAH Propulsion Research Center)
Application of Improved Heat Exchanger Geometry to Nuclear Thermal Rocket Engines
Spencer Christian (Ohio State), Casey Ruckman (Ohio State), Jacob Stonehill (Ohio State), Preston Williams Jr. (Ohio State), Caleb Whitacre (Ohio State), John M. Horack (Ohio State)
Non-Uniform Heating Impact on Specific Impulse in Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Engines
Spencer Christian (Ohio State), John M. Horack (Ohio State)
Coverage to Launch: Updating Nuclear Liability Laws to Empower Development of Space Technologies
Sid Fowler (Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman), Jeffrey S. Merrifield (Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman), Vince C. Zabielski (Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman)
Development of a Nuclear Thermal Rocket I&C Testbed
Brandon Wilson (ORNL), Hayden Sutton (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville), Bart Murphy (ORNL), N. Dianne Bull Ezell (ORNL)
An Extremely High Isp Spacecraft Propulsion System
Lawrence Forsley (Global Energy Corp.), Theresa Benyo (NASA Glenn Research Center), Pamela Mosier-Boss (Global Energy Corp.), Leonard Dudzinski (NASA Headquarters)
Anti-Criticality Assessments for the Government Testing Reference NTP Design
Mike Savela (BWXT Advanced Technologies), Daniel Newell (BWXT Advanced Technologies), Patrick Hunt (BWXT Advanced Technologies), Randall Paliga (BWXT Advanced Technologies), Matthew Ales (BWXT Advanced Technologies), Shane Stimpson (BWXT Advanced Technologies)
Alpha Particle Propulsion for Overtaking Voyger-1 in 40 years
Naoyuki Takaki (Tokyo City Univ.), Hiroki Yaguchi (Tokyo City Univ.), Yuki Sakurai (Tokyo City Univ.), Keigo Hasegawa (Tokyo City Univ.)
Abeona: Nuclear-Electric Propulsion Vehicle for Missions to Neptune and Outer Planets
Geoffrey A. Landis (NASA Glenn Research Center), Steven R. Oleson (NASA Glenn Research Center)
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