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
September 2026
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
August 2026
Latest News
Oklo’s Isotope Test Reactor achieves criticality
Oklo’s Groves Isotope Test Reactor became the fifth Department of Energy–authorized reactor to achieve criticality under the agency’s authorization process, it was announced earlier today.
Criticality was reached at 9:19 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday at the company’s Groves facility in Lockhart, Texas, according to the DOE.
Technical Session|Space Nuclear Propulsion
Tuesday, May 6, 2025|3:15–4:55PM CDT|Atlantis/Discovery/Columbia (Marriott)
Session Chair:
Kurt Polzin (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
Track Organizer:
Harold Gerrish (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
To access paper attachments, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
Register NowLog In
Modular Assembled Radiators for Nuclear Electric Population (NEP) VehicLes (MARVL) Project - Update
3:15–3:21PM CDT
Amanda Stark (NASA Langley Research Center), Will Grier (NASA Langley Research Center)
Paper
Applications of an Electrostatic Mesh in Nuclear Propulsion Techniques
3:21–3:27PM CDT
Grace E. Bittlingmaier (Beam Alpha Inc.)
Exploration of Regenerative Cooling for High-Power Adiabatic Electric Thrusters
3:27–3:33PM CDT
Kaylin Borders (Cornell Univ.), Elaine Petro (Cornell Univ.)
Presentation Slides (Visible to Attendees)
Preliminary Considerations on BANTER: A European Project on Innovative Ammonia Bimodal Nuclear Rocket
3:33–3:39PM CDT
Elia Puccinelli (Univ. Pisa), Valerio Giusti (Univ. Pisa), Angelo Pasini (Univ. Pisa)
Applying Past Space Reactor Lessons Towards Antares
3:39–3:45PM CDT
Kevin Makinson (Antares), Matthew Griffin (Antares), Hassan Safieddine (Antares), Aaron She (Antares)
Presentation Slides (Visible to Attendees) — Slides
ASTM Standard for Safe Operating Practices In-Space for Space Fission Reactors Used for Nuclear Power and Propulsion
3:45–3:51PM CDT
W. Randy Bell (Aerospace Corp.), Alex Gilbert (Zeno Power), Don Helton (NASA Headquarters)
Nonproliferation Considerations for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Systems
3:51–3:57PM CDT
Kathleen A. Doty (PNNL)
Oscillating Heat Pipes for Space Nuclear Power
3:57–4:03PM CDT
Alex Miller (ThermAvant Technologies)