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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
August 2026
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Aalo Atomics achieves criticality on July 4
Executive Order 14301 set an ambitious goal for at least three test reactors to achieve criticality by July 4. Two private companies participating in the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program—Antares and Valar Atomics—reached this stage earlier in June, and Deployable Energy—participating in the DOE's Nuclear Energy Launch Pad—became the third last week.
In the last few weeks, reports indicated that Aalo would be next, reaching criticality at Idaho National Laboratory with a low-enriched uranium–fueled, sodium-cooled reactor on or near the target date set forth by President Trump’s EO 14301. In the early hours of July 4, Aalo’s critical test reactor—a full-scale zero-power version of its planned 10-MWe Aalo-X—did just that, becoming the fourth DOE-authorized reactor to hit the milestone.
April 27–30, 2026
Dayton, OH|The Dayton Convention Center
Rian Bahran U.S. DOE
Stephen Bowen NASA astronaut
Nigel BannisterSpace Park Leicester
Megan DillonNC State Univ.
Bhavya LalGeorgetown University
Ralph McNuttJohns Hopkins University
Aaron MilesWhite House OSTP
Clive NealUniv. Notre Dame
Chemical rockets got us off the ground, but they won’t keep us alive on the Moon or get us to Mars in record time. The next era of deep space exploration demands the unrivaled, relentless power of the atom.
Welcome to the Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS) community. Space nuclear technology is no longer a 1960s blueprint; we are operating in a heavily backed renaissance driven by aggressive national space policies, hard government mandates, and massive strategic investments.
This is where the laboratory meets the boardroom and the briefing room. We bring together the visionary engineers building the hardware, the policymakers writing the standards, and the agency leaders deploying the capital. When NASA, the DOE, the DOW, and the commercial aerospace sector need to align on the future of space power, they do it here.
We are the premier community architecting the complete deep-space infrastructure:
Whether you are engineering the hardware, writing the policy, or setting the standards that will turn science fiction into an operational reality, your voice belongs here. Join us as we build the infrastructure of the cosmos.
Register today to join the conversation and help shape the future of space nuclear!
Enhance your visibility at the NETS 2026 by becoming a sponsor. All sponsors are recognized on the conference website and in promotional communication, acknowledged at the Opening Plenary and on signage displayed throughout the conference. Sponsorship packages are limited, so reserve your sponsorship package early. Download the Prospectus