NASA’s radioisotope-powered science will persevere on MarsNuclear NewsResearch & ApplicationsFebruary 19, 2021, 3:00PM|Nuclear News StaffMembers of the Perseverance rover team in Mission Control at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory react after receiving confirmation of a successful landing. Photo: NASA/Bill IngallsNASA mission control and space science fans around the world celebrated the safe landing of the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover on February 18 after a journey of 203 days and 293 million miles. Landing on Mars is difficult—only about 50 percent of all previous Mars landing attempts have succeeded—and a successful landing for Perseverance, the fifth rover that NASA has sent to Mars, was not assured. Confirmation of the successful touchdown was announced at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., at 3:55 p.m. EST.“This landing is one of those pivotal moments for NASA, the United States, and space exploration globally—when we know we are on the cusp of discovery and sharpening our pencils, so to speak, to rewrite the textbooks,” said acting NASA administrator Steve Jurczyk. “The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission embodies our nation’s spirit of persevering even in the most challenging of situations, inspiring, and advancing science and exploration. The mission itself personifies the human ideal of persevering toward the future and will help us prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet.”Only radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG) can provide the long-lasting, compact power source that Perseverance needs to carry out its long-term exploratory mission. Perseverance carries an RTG powered by the radioactive decay of plutonium-238 that was supplied by the Department of Energy. ANS president Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar and CEO and executive director Craig Piercy congratulated NASA after the successful landing, acknowledging the critical contributions of the DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.ExpandTags:curiositydoeinllanlmarsnasaornlperseverancertgspaceShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Statement on the successful landing of NASA's Perseverance rover on MarsStatement from American Nuclear Society President Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar and CEO Craig PiercyPress ReleasesResearch & ApplicationsFebruary 18, 2021, 3:13PM|ANS StaffANS congratulates NASA for the successful landing of Perseverance on Mars. We look forward to watching from afar its exploration of the Red Planet and search for past microbial life. This is a proud moment as well for nuclear science and technology as a multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator will be powering the rover to mission success.ExpandTags:marsnasanuclearperseveranceplutoniumpress releaseShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
DOE lists five stories to watch in 2021ANS Nuclear CafeResearch & ApplicationsJanuary 19, 2021, 9:29AM|ANS StaffDespite all the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. nuclear energy community pulled out some big wins in 2020, and this year could be even bigger, according to the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy.From deep space exploration on Mars to a historic new reactor coming online in Waynesboro, Ga., 2021 will be a record-breaking year for the industry—both good and potentially bad.Find the full details on the DOE-NE website.ExpandTags:2021marsnrcnuclear energyperseveranceuraniumvogtleShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
The year in review 2020: Research and ApplicationsNuclear NewsResearch & ApplicationsJanuary 8, 2021, 11:59AM|Nuclear News StaffHere is a look back at the top stories of 2020 from our Research and Applications section in Newswire and Nuclear News magazine. Remember to check back to Newswire soon for more top stories from 2020.Research and Applications sectionARDP picks divergent technologies in Natrium, Xe-100: Is nuclear’s future taking shape? The Department of Energy has put two reactor designs—TerraPower’s Natrium and X-energy’s Xe-100—on a fast track to commercialization, each with an initial $80 million in 50-50 cost-shared funds awarded through the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. Read more.ExpandTags:arc-20ardpcore powercovid-19doefesacfusioniaeamarsmicroreactornasanatrium xe-100plasmaversatile test reactorShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Nuclear-powered Perseverance begins seven-month journey to MarsNuclear NewsResearch & ApplicationsJuly 30, 2020, 2:56PM|Nuclear News StaffAn Atlas V rocket with NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover on board launches on July 30. Photo: NASA/Joel KowskyThe launch of the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover went ahead as scheduled on July 30, lifting off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 7:50 a.m. (EDT) . The rover was onboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket.Minutes later, NASA reported that all flight milestones were being met as planned. There are several more milestones to reach before Perseverance—the fifth rover that NASA has sent to Mars—lands on the Red Planet in seven months.ExpandTags:marsradioisotopesroverspaceShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
One small step for fission—on the Moon and beyondNuclear NewsResearch & ApplicationsJuly 27, 2020, 12:02PM|Nuclear News StaffA reliable energy source is critical for long-duration space exploration. NASA, targeting launch readiness by the end of 2026, has teamed up with the Department of Energy and Idaho National Laboratory to solicit realistic assessments of fission surface power systems designed for deployment on the Moon that could, with little modification, be sent to Mars as well.Go to ArticleTags:inlmarsmoonnasaspacespace applicationsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Brouillette touts SMRs in address to space councilNuclear NewsResearch & ApplicationsMay 22, 2020, 7:42AM|Nuclear News StaffBrouilletteIn remarks addressed to a meeting of the National Space Council on May 19, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said that the development and deployment of small modular reactors could provide sustainable power sources for space applications.ExpandTags:brouillettedoemarsnasanuclear propulsionsmrsspace councilspace forceShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook