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 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Mar 2026
Jan 2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
April 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
On moving fast and breaking things
Craig Piercycpiercy@ans.org
So much of what is happening in federal nuclear policy these days seems driven by a common approach popularized in the technology sector. Silicon Valley calls it “move fast and break things,” a phrase originally associated with Facebook’s early culture under Mark Zuckerberg. The idea emerged in the early 2000s as software companies discovered that rapid iteration, frequent experimentation, and a willingness to tolerate failure could dramatically accelerate innovation. This philosophy helped drive the growth of the social media, smartphones, cloud computing, and digital platforms that now underpin modern economic and social life.
Today, that mindset is also influencing federal nuclear policy. The Trump administration views accelerated nuclear deployment as part of a broader competition with China for technological and AI leadership. In that context, it seems willing to accept greater operational risk in pursuit of strategic advantage and long-term economic and security objectives.
May 6–10, 2024
Powering the Final Frontier
Santa Fe, NM
The Proceedings of NETS are now available to all who registered for the conference. Access to the Proceedings is linked to the account you used to register for NETS 2024.
You can also access the Proceedings by logging in to the ANS website and then:
We look forward to hosting NETS in May 2024! The venue for this conference is Santa Fe, the state capital of New Mexico, home to several laboratories with key roles in space nuclear power. Santa Fe is a city of ~90,000 people in Northern New Mexico located about 64 miles north of Albuquerque, the largest city of the state. Airports exist in both Santa Fe and Albuquerque for ease of travel. NETS 2024 will offer a variety of topics in space power. The first plenary session will be devoted to overall space nuclear power missions ranging from nuclear thermal propulsion to radioisotope power systems. The second plenary will give a New Mexico-centric focus with the Air Force Research Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories capabilities. The final plenary session will focus on the host laboratory, Los Alamos, and relevant history and facilities for space nuclear power missions. For those who wish to come early or stay an extra day or two to explore New Mexican culture, there are historical museums, national parks, and other tourist attractions around the area.
Speakers
Enhance your visibility at the Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS 2024) by becoming a sponsor or exhibitor. Sponsors and exhibitors are recognized on the meeting website and the mobile app. All sponsors will also be acknowledged at the Opening Plenary, in promotional communications, and on signage displayed throughout the meeting. Sponsorship packages are limited, so reserve your package early. View our prospectus for more information.
