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
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2023)
February 6–9, 2023
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
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
Jan 2023
Jul 2022
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
February 2023
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
January 2023
Latest News
Nuclear energy: enabling production of food, fiber, hydrocarbon biofuels, and negative carbon emissions
In the 1960s, Alvin Weinberg at Oak Ridge National Laboratory initiated a series of studies on nuclear agro-industrial complexes1 to address the needs of the world’s growing population. Agriculture was a central component of these studies, as it must be. Much of the emphasis was on desalination of seawater to provide fresh water for irrigation of crops. Remarkable advances have lowered the cost of desalination to make that option viable in countries like Israel. Later studies2 asked the question, are there sufficient minerals (potassium, phosphorous, copper, nickel, etc.) to enable a prosperous global society assuming sufficient nuclear energy? The answer was a qualified “yes,” with the caveat that mineral resources will limit some technological options. These studies were defined by the characteristic of looking across agricultural and industrial sectors to address multiple challenges using nuclear energy.
Yale Chang
Nuclear Technology | Volume 207 | Number 6 | June 2021 | Pages 844-850
Technical Note | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2020.1855946
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
National Security Presidential Memorandum-20 (NSPM-20) (Launch of Spacecraft Containing Space Nuclear Systems) provides updated guidelines for launch authorization for three categories of proposed launches of spacecraft with space nuclear systems: Federal government civil space including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Federal government defense and intelligence, and commercial. These space nuclear systems provide power, heat, and/or propulsion to the spacecraft. NSPM-20 requires a rigorous, risk-informed safety analysis and launch authorization process. The launch approval process of previous NASA missions each took several years and cost multimillion dollars. NSPM-20 provides guidelines to potentially streamline the process and improve cost and schedule. This technical note examines three NSPM-20 guidelines on a future example interplanetary mission (EIM) as to their potential implementation feasibility for three accident categories: Earth gravity assist reentry, solid propellant fires, and flight termination system design. It is found that the safety technology for these accidents were constantly improved over the last several missions, but in some cases may not be adequate for direct use in the EIM’s launch authorization process.