General Atomics Nuclear Thermal Space Propulsion System For DARPA Passes Tests

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems says a new nuclear propulsion system developed for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has passed an initial test.

The nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) reactor has been developed for Track A, Phase 1 Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program.

The system is intended to enable a nuclear thermal rocket to operate in cislunar space, or the region between the Earth and the moon.

General Atomics said it delivered a baseline design for the DRACO NTP reactor and engine under a DARPA contract. In addition, several key components have been tested, including high-temperature fuel elements, in prototype conditions at the NASA Nuclear Thermal Element Environmental Simulator (NTREES).

NTP propulsion can be two to three times as powerful as existing technologies, which is important for cislunar missions, said company officials.