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Aerospace Nuclear Science & Technology
Organized to promote the advancement of knowledge in the use of nuclear science and technologies in the aerospace application. Specialized nuclear-based technologies and applications are needed to advance the state-of-the-art in aerospace design, engineering and operations to explore planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond, plus enhance the safety of air travel, especially high speed air travel. Areas of interest will include but are not limited to the creation of nuclear-based power and propulsion systems, multifunctional materials to protect humans and electronic components from atmospheric, space, and nuclear power system radiation, human factor strategies for the safety and reliable operation of nuclear power and propulsion plants by non-specialized personnel and more.
Meeting Spotlight
International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering (M&C 2025)
April 27–30, 2025
Denver, CO|The Westin Denver Downtown
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!
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Latest News
Sam Altman steps down as Oklo board chair
Advanced nuclear company Oklo Inc. has new leadership for its board of directors as billionaire Sam Altman is stepping down from the position he has held since 2015. The move is meant to open new partnership opportunities with OpenAI, where Altman is CEO, and other artificial intelligence companies.
Didier Perrault
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 75 | Number 5 | July 2019 | Pages 339-344
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2019.1594538
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The decree authorizing the creation of the ITER facility was published on November 9, 2012, with the provisions adopted having been considered mostly acceptable. However, it is the first fusion facility of this kind to require a creation decree and the design of some of the systems had not yet been finalized. Moreover, while some equipment, with their associated safety requirements, are indeed classic and well known, others are uncommon and their safety requirements, although considered acceptable, are requesting justification.
Therefore, the decree was supported by about 200 requests, which have to be met during the facility startup schedule. This paper takes stock of the current situation and presents the current status of the main expected answers, taking into account the design evolution which has been further proposed by the operator (e.g., the new vacuum vessel pressure suppression system, etc.).
Some safety issues have already been considered as solved (the tokamak support design, accident within the neutral beam cell, etc.). Others are estimated not to be completely satisfactory (e.g., explosion within the vacuum vessel). Before moving on to commissioning, a few issues are still pending (detritiation system efficiency, radiation protection, etc.) and additional studies regarding the final design are expected (hot cells, tritium and waste buildings, etc.).