ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Aug 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
October 2026
Nuclear Technology
September 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
August 2026
Latest News
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
Tuesday, May 9, 2023|1:30–3:10PM MDT|Boise Room
Session Chair:
Chadwick D. Barklay
Alternate Chair:
Austen D. Fradeneck
Session Organizer:
Sebastian C. Corbisiero
To access paper attachments, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
Register NowLog In
A Feasibility Study for the Early Deployment of an Americium-241 Fuelled Radioisotope Heater Unit
1:30–1:50PM MDT
Jacob White (National Nuclear Laboratory), Tim Tinsley (National Nuclear Laboratory), Richard Ambrosi (Univ. Leicester), Richard Smith (National Nuclear Laboratory), Rebecca Sanderson (National Nuclear Laboratory)
Paper
Avoiding Earth Launch of Radioactive Material: Concepts for In-Situ Fabrication of Radioisotope Power Generators for Cislunar Applications
1:50–2:10PM MDT
C.M. Lavelle (Johns Hopkins APL), R. Venkatasubramanian (Johns Hopkins APL), R. McNutt (Johns Hopkins APL), K. Iyer (Johns Hopkins APL), P. Ostdiek (Johns Hopkins APL), A. Darrin (Johns Hopkins APL)
Development, Testing and Power Performance Prediction Update for the Skutterudite-Based MMRTG
2:10–2:30PM MDT
T. Caillat (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), S. Pinkowski (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), I. Chi (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), K. Smith (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), J. Paik (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), R. Bennett (Teledyne Energy Systems), S. Keyser (Teledyne Energy Systems), A. Lane (Aerojet Rocketdyne), K. Wefers (Aerojet Rocketdyne)
Performance Test of a Small ETG in Low-Earth Orbit
2:30–2:50PM MDT
Jintae Hong (KAERI), Sunjin Kim (KAERI), Jong-Bum Kim (KAERI), Kwang-Jae Son (KAERI), Jin-Joo Kim (KAERI), Jin Kim (KAERI)
Advancements Towards 100% Form-Fit-and-Function and Manufacturing of GPHS Heritage-Like SiGe Unicouples with Materials Prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering
2:50–3:10PM MDT
Jonathan Pierce (Johns Hopkins APL), Richard Ung (Johns Hopkins APL), Jake Ballard (Johns Hopkins APL), Tim Holgate (Johns Hopkins APL), Priestly Shuler (Johns Hopkins APL), Mousumi Mitra (Univ. Virginia), Rasdip Singh (Soal Technologies), Meiyong Himmtann (Johns Hopkins APL), Cheryl Sturm (Johns Hopkins APL), Scott Misture (Alfred Univ.), Joseph Poon (Univ. Virginia), Timothy Erickson (Johns Hopkins APL), Paul Ostdiek (Johns Hopkins APL), Rama Venkatasubramanian (Johns Hopkins APL)
