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posted by martyb on Tuesday June 16 2020, @01:36AM   Printer-friendly
from the hot-stuff dept.

The US military is getting serious about nuclear thermal propulsion:

[...] the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency announced its intent to have a flyable nuclear thermal propulsion system ready for a demonstration in 2025.

Through this Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations, or DRACO program, the defense agency seeks technology that will allow for more responsive control of spacecraft in Earth orbit, lunar orbit, and everywhere in between, giving the military greater operational freedom in these domains.

"Activity in cislunar space is expected to increase considerably in the coming years," Tabatha Thompson, a DARPA spokeswoman, told Ars. "An agile nuclear thermal propulsion vehicle enables the DOD to maintain Space Domain Awareness of the burgeoning activity within this vast volume."

In "Phase 1" of its solicitation, DARPA has asked industry for the designs of both a nuclear thermal reactor and an operational spacecraft upon which to demonstrate it. This initial phase of the program is to last 18 months. Subsequent phases will lead to detailed design, fabrication, ground tests, and an in-space demonstration. No contracts have yet been awarded, and award values will be determined by industry submissions.

The propulsion system is thought to make travel around the Solar System quicker.


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  • (Score: 2) by mhajicek on Tuesday June 16 2020, @04:07AM (4 children)

    by mhajicek (51) on Tuesday June 16 2020, @04:07AM (#1008478)

    We're sorry, that name has been taken. Please choose another rocket engine name.

    --
    The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
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    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 16 2020, @12:20PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 16 2020, @12:20PM (#1008559)

    how about "the sexy neutron activation witch"?
    steer clear of her brooms exhaust plume ^_^

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 16 2020, @12:28PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 16 2020, @12:28PM (#1008565)

      shorter and gender neutral: "necromancers deelite"?

    • (Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Tuesday June 16 2020, @12:45PM

      by Phoenix666 (552) on Tuesday June 16 2020, @12:45PM (#1008573) Journal

      how about "the sexy neutron activation witch"?

      TSNAW? That's the sound when a redneck goes to blow a nostril full of gunk into the dust but chokes on it instead.

      --
      Washington DC delenda est.
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 16 2020, @06:43PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 16 2020, @06:43PM (#1008794)

    Or just... GOATSE