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
Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
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
May 2024
Nuclear Technology
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.
Daniel K. Bond, Braden Goddard, Robert C. Singleterry, Jr., Sama Bilbao y León
Nuclear Technology | Volume 206 | Number 8 | August 2020 | Pages 1120-1139
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2019.1681221
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Materials have a primary purpose in the design of space vehicles, such as fuels, walls, racks, windows, etc. Additionally, each will also effect space radiation protection. The shielding capabilities of 39 materials and nine layering configurations are evaluated for deep space travel in terms of whole-body effective dose equivalent (ED). Polymer and composite materials are also evaluated in terms of . It is clear that a “magic” material or layering configuration is not possible; however, polymers and composites should be used instead of metals if they can serve their primary purpose. Polyethylene is shown to be the best feasible material from this material sample. Thermal neutron absorbers 6Li and 10B do not have a significant effect on ED as homogeneous shields or in layering configurations. Alloying of materials such as aluminum for strengthening purposes does not increase ED. Tanking liquid hydrogen within aluminum does significantly reduce ED when compared to aluminum. Ultimately, a space vehicle is a system of systems and radiation protection must be one of them.