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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
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The human factor in licensing and operating the next generation of nuclear plants
As human factors specialists working at the intersection of human performance and nuclear operations, we are witnessing one of the nuclear sector’s most significant transitions in decades. The emergence of small modular reactors, microreactors, and other advanced designs is reshaping the industry’s landscape. Digital instrumentation and controls, passive safety systems, and increased automation are creating opportunities for greater safety margins and more flexible operation. These same features also fundamentally redefine what it means to “operate” a nuclear plant. Interactions among human roles, automation, and passive systems shape how people maintain awareness, exercise judgment, and intervene when necessary. These developments affect both operational realities and the regulatory foundations on which nuclear safety is built.
Technical Session|Architectures, Missions, and Use Cases
Wednesday, April 29, 2026|10:10–11:30AM EDT|Room 306
Session Chair:
Jericho Locke
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NTP Engine Performance and Concept of Operations Assessment for Manned Mars Missions With Consideration of Gravity Losses and Reactor Cooling
10:10–10:30AM EDT
F. Bertrand (CEA), A. Simmonet (CEA), P. Sciora (CEA), V. Brun-Magaud (CEA), L. Matteo (CEA), E. Proust (CEA), M. Mascaron (CEA), M.L. Schlegel (CEA), V. Girardin (ESA)
Paper
Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter Reimagined: Leveraging NASA's Fission Surface Power and Modern Launch Vehicles
10:30–10:50AM EDT
Brian J. Muzek (L3Harris Aerojet Rocketdyne), C. Russell Joyner II (L3Harris Aerojet Rocketdyne), Timothy Kokan (L3Harris Aerojet Rocketdyne), Rodney W. Noble (L3Harris Aerojet Rocketdyne), Christopher B. Reynolds (L3Harris Aerojet Rocketdyne)
Leveraging Advanced Nuclear Thermal Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration
10:50–11:10AM EDT
Britton Reynolds (L3Harris Technologies), Claude R. Joyner II (L3Harris Technologies), Timothy Kokan (L3Harris Technologies), Brian J. Muzek (L3Harris Technologies)
Conceptual Design of a Nuclear Electric Propulsion Mission for Direct Rendezvous With Uranus
11:10–11:30AM EDT
Monica A. Salunkhe (Univ. Alabama, Huntsville), L. Dale Thomas (Univ. Alabama, Huntsville)
