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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Center for Used Fuel Research: Building confidence in storage and transport
Used nuclear fuel storage and transportation have reached a critical juncture.
Dozens of utilities need reliable data on how used nuclear fuel performs in dry storage casks and canisters to extend regulatory licenses at sites across the United States. Likewise, the Department of Energy expects to take ownership of the used nuclear fuel—termed “spent nuclear fuel” in the laws and regulations governing its stewardship—and transfer it to one or more federal staging facilities for management and disposition.
Meanwhile, dozens of reactor companies are testing prototypes of advanced reactors and advanced reactor fuels. Eventually, regulators and industry must also verify the safety and security of storage methods for these advanced fuel types.
To help address these challenges, the DOE established the Center for Used Fuel Research (CUFR) in January 2026 for work related to the long-term storage and transport of used nuclear fuel.
Technical Session
Monday, May 8, 2023|3:45–5:25PM MDT|Twin Falls Room
Session Chair:
Michael G. Houts
Session Organizer:
Alternate Chair:
Kurt Polzin
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Continuing Experimental Efforts for Simulating a Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket Engine
3:45–4:05PM MDT
Timothy Blackman (Univ. Alabama, Hunstville), Mitchell Schroll (Univ. Alabama, Hunstville), Robert Frederick (Univ. Alabama, Hunstville), L. Dale Thomas (Univ. Alabama, Hunstville)
Paper
Nuclear Thermal Propulsion for High Delta-V Science Missions
4:05–4:25PM MDT
Ethan Chaleff (Ultra Safe Nuclear), Craig Foulds (Ultra Safe Nuclear), Doug Greisen (Ultra Safe Nuclear), Michael Eades (Ultra Safe Nuclear)
Capabilities of Single Launch NTP and Chemical Spacecrafts for Cis-Lunar Tug Missions
4:25–4:45PM MDT
Christopher Harnack (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.), Emanuel Grella (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.), Sean Greenhalge (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.), Matthew Duchek (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.)
Chemical Vapor Deposition of ZrC Coatings for Space Nuclear Propulsion
4:45–5:05PM MDT
Eddie Lopez-Honorato (ORNL), Tyler Gerczak (ORNL), Ryan Heldt (ORNL), Peter Doyle (ORNL), Will Cureton (ORNL), Grant Helmreich (ORNL), John Hunn (ORNL)
Overview of the Reliability-Driven Design and Test Methodology Applied to Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Systems
5:05–5:25PM MDT
Samantha B. Rawlins (Univ. Alabama, Huntsville), L. Dale Thomas (Univ. Alabama, Huntsville)
DRACO On-Orbit Nuclear Thermal Rocket Experiment Preliminary Plans
5:25–5:45PM MDT
Tabitha Dodson (Defense Advanced Projects Agency), David Poston (LANL), Anthony Calomino (NASA Glenn Research Center), Jason Turpin (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
