Issued patent
Improved Efficiency in Nuclear Propulsion
An issued NASA patent from the Technology Transfer catalog.
About this technology
Overview
Innovators at Langley Research Center (LaRC) have developed a design and method to improve efficiency in nuclear propulsion technology for long-distance space missions. The nuclear thermionic avalanche cell (NTAC) Augmented Nuclear Electric Propulsion and/or Nuclear Thermal Propulsion design surrounds the rocket chamber and reactor core with an NTAC and safely converts gamma ray radiation expelled during nuclear fission processes, which would otherwise be lost to radiation shielding, into electric power to support additional propulsion. Compared to current radiation-shielded propulsion systems, this design is more efficient and lower weight, enabling faster nuclear propulsion travel. This technology potentially has a wide range of applications including nuclear power generation applications on Earth, and for unmanned vehicles, and commercial space exploration.