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2026 Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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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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NEUP honors young ANS members with R&D awards
Each year, the Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) recognizes graduate and undergraduate students for their innovative nuclear energy research. The winners of the Innovations in Nuclear Energy Research and Development Student Competition (INSC) receive honoraria along with travel and conference opportunities, including the chance to present their publications at the annual American Nuclear Society Winter Conference & Expo.
John J. Newgard, Myron M. Levoy
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 7 | Number 4 | April 1960 | Pages 377-386
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE60-A25732
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The over-all design of a prototype nuclear rocket is described. For practical systems using uranium-loaded graphite for fuel elements within a graphitic core structure, and hydrogen as core coolant and propellant, it is possible to achieve specific impulses of at least 800 sec. The design of the reactor core, reflector, and nuclear controls are presented for a prototype design. The nuclear, heat transfer, and fluid flow considerations for a typical design are discussed. Reactor perturbations caused by fuel element ejection, corrosion-erosion, and hydrogen density changes are discussed. Some radiation hazards are considered. Nonreactor aspects of the rocket such as hydrogen handling and the coupling of the reactor to the rocket system are indicated.