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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|Nuclear Thermal Propulsion
Tuesday, May 7, 2024|10:00–11:40AM MDT|Coronado/DeVargas
Session Chair:
Christopher (Britton) Reynolds (Aerojet Rocketdyne/L3Harris)
Alternate Chair:
Randy Bell (Aerospace Corp.)
Session Organizer:
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Nuclear Power and Propulsion International Gap Assessment
10:00–10:25AM MDT
Markus Landgraf (European Space Agency), Lee S. Mason (NASA Glenn Research Center), Hiroshi Ueno (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Martin Anderson (Canadian Space Agency), Pierre Boutté (Centre National d'Études Spatiales), Daniel Brady (National Resources Canada), Joshua Brayford (UK Space Agency), Pascal Bultel (Centre National d'Études Spatiales), Antoine de la Chevrotière (National Resources Canada), Leonard Dudzinski (NASA Headquarters), Kandyce Goodliff (NASA Langley Research Center), John Guidi (NASA Headquarters), Adrian Guzmán (Agencia Espacial Mexicana), Jintae Hong (KAERI), Chan Soo Kim (KAERI), Andrew Kuh (UK Space Agency), William Mackey (Canadian Space Agency), Micah Melnyk (National Resources Canada), Jun Nakajima (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Claire Parfitt (European Space Agency), Rinat Rashapov (Canadian Space Agency), Dong Young Rew (KAERI), Danilo Sakay (Agência Espacial Brasileira), Leopold Summerer (European Space Agency), Ernest Tan (Canadian Space Agency), Manu Varrier (Indian Space Research Organisation), Brent Wilhelm (National Resources Canada)
Paper
Applications of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion for Deep Space Science Missions
10:25–10:50AM MDT
Christopher B. Reynolds (Aerojet Rocketdyne), C. Russell Joyner II (Aerojet Rocketdyne), Timothy Kokan (Aerojet Rocketdyne), Daniel J. H. Levack (Aerojet Rocketdyne), Brian J. Muzek (Aerojet Rocketdyne), Rod Noble (Aerojet Rocketdyne)
The Politics of Nuclear Rocket Development
10:50–11:15AM MDT
James C. Howe (247 Strategic Consulting)
Presentation Slides (Visible to Attendees)
Benefits of NTP in Cislunar Transportation System for NASA's Artemis Program
11:15–11:40AM MDT
Saroj Kumar (Univ. Alabama, Hunstville), L. Dale Thomas (Univ. Alabama, Huntsville), Jason T. Cassibry (Univ. Alabama, Huntsville)
