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Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
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A year in orbit: ISS deployment tests radiation detectors for future space missions
The predawn darkness on a cool Florida night was shattered by the ignition of nine Merlin engines on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The thrust of the engines shook the ground miles away. From a distance, the rocket appeared to slowly rise above the horizon. For the cargo onboard, the launch was anything but gentle, as the ignition of liquid oxygen generated more than 1.5 million pounds of force. After the rocket had been out of sight for several minutes, the booster dramatically returned to Earth with several sonic booms in a captivating show of engineering designed to make space travel less expensive and more sustainable.
Technical Session|Panel
Tuesday, May 9, 2023|1:30–3:10PM MDT|Twin Falls Room
Session Chair:
Michael G. Houts
Session Organizer:
Alternate Chairs:
Kurt Polzin
Vedant K. Mehta
Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) can help enable the detailed exploration and extensive utilization of the solar system, as well as provide enhanced capability for pragmatic earth-moon system (cislunar) delivery missions typically conducted by upper stage rocket engines. The NTP panel will discuss the history of NTP, ongoing and near-term NTP activities, and potential future NTP systems and missions.
Tabitha Dodson
DARPA
Jason Turpin
NASA
Harold Gerrish
NASA-MSFC
Patrick Frye
Blue Origin
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