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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2026
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June 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
May 2026
Latest News
DOE approves Xcimer’s laser fusion power plant design
The Department of Energy has approved Xcimer Energy's Athena fusion power plant preconceptual technical design. With this milestone achieved, the Denver, Colo.-based company is now moving forward with its plans to develop economical laser inertial confinement fusion using two beamlines, gas laser technology, and a molten salt fusion chamber.
The National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory demonstrated net energy gain from inertial confinement fusion in 2022 using solid-state glass lasers and 192 beamlines.
Technical Session|Nuclear Thermal Propulsion
Thursday, May 9, 2024|3:15–4:55PM MDT|Coronado/DeVargas
Session Chair:
Doug Burns
Alternate Chair:
Session Organizer:
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Anti-Criticality Methods for Nuclear Thermal Rocket Launches and their Associated Assembly/Disassembly in Space
3:15–3:40PM MDT
Brandon Wilson (ORNL), Julia Cline (NASA Langley Research Center), Kaylin Borders (Cornell University), Pavel Shilenko (United States Military Academy), N. Dianne Bull Ezell (ORNL)
Paper
Range Safety Considerations for Reactor-Based Space Nuclear Systems
3:40–4:05PM MDT
A.P. Herbert (Lockheed Martin Space), B. Fisher (Lockheed Martin Space), M. Granger (Lockheed Martin Space), M. Blood (Lockheed Martin Space)
Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Ground Testing with the High Pressure Real-Time (HPRT) Exhaust Processing System
4:05–4:30PM MDT
Lindsey Holmes (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.), Marcus Neely (Jacobs Space Exploration), Jim Rector (New Horizon 5), Ricky Sasmal (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.)
Hazards Analysis Frameworks for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Ground Testing
4:30–4:55PM MDT
Reed Herner (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.), Alexander Pingel (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.), Jaycie Hall (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.), Jim Werner (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.), Lindsey Holmes (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.)
