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.
Division Spotlight
Robotics & Remote Systems
The Mission of the Robotics and Remote Systems Division is to promote the development and application of immersive simulation, robotics, and remote systems for hazardous environments for the purpose of reducing hazardous exposure to individuals, reducing environmental hazards and reducing the cost of performing work.
Meeting Spotlight
2024 ANS Annual Conference
June 16–19, 2024
Las Vegas, NV|Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
Latest Magazine Issues
Apr 2024
Jan 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
June 2024
Nuclear Technology
May 2024
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Commercial nuclear innovation "new space" age
In early 2006, a start-up company launched a small rocket from a tiny island in the Pacific. It exploded, showering the island with debris. A year later, a second launch attempt sent a rocket to space but failed to make orbit, burning up in the atmosphere. Another year brought a third attempt—and a third failure. The following month, in September 2008, the company used the last of its funds to launch a fourth rocket. It reached orbit, making history as the first privately funded liquid-fueled rocket to do so.
18th International Probabilistic Safety Assessment and Analysis (PSA 2023)
Dr. Matthew “Matt” Forsbacka is the director of the Mission Assurance Standards and Capabilities Division within NASA’s Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA) and is responsible for the development and maintenance of NASA directives and standards pertaining to SMA, as well as related methods, tools, and guidance. Previously, he served as NASA’s Nuclear Flight Safety Assurance Manager with responsibility for reviewing the Nuclear Launch Safety Approval Requests submitted by programs and projects that plan to launch nuclear power systems and radioactive material in space.
Prior to rejoining NASA in 2018, he served in senior leadership positions at the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier in his career, Forsbacka held staff level positions at DNFSB and served as a program executive at NASA. He started his career as a Nuclear Research Officer in the US Air Force, entering active duty in 1983.
Forsbacka has a doctorate in nuclear engineering from the University of Virginia and both a master’s and bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Florida.
Last modified May 17, 2023, 4:29pm EDT
