USNC (Ultra Safe Nuclear Technologies), a technology manufacturer headquartered in Seattle, USA, reportedly delivered a new nuclear heat propulsion engine concept design to NASA.
There are many challenges to targeting Mars or deep space on Earth. One of these is travel time, and in 2013 NASA expressed support for engine research to reduce travel time. In 2017, it signed a three-year contract with BWX Technologies to develop a new nuclear rocket engine.
The chemical rocket engines that have been used so far are theoretically limited and the thrust of electric-propelled rocket engines is low, so rocket engineers are paying attention to nuclear power. The new nuclear heat propulsion engine concept design, which was delivered by USNC this time, is said to be safer, more reliable than conventional nuclear heat propulsion engines, and much more efficient than conventional chemical rocket engines. According to the USNC, the thrust that can be generated is twice that of conventional chemical rocket engines.
The fuel used is an all-ceramic nuclear fuel FCM based on high-purity, low-enriched uranium. It is stronger and safer than conventional nuclear fuel and can be operated at high temperature This engine can shorten the travel time between Earth and Mars to just three months. It has the potential to contribute to the realization of the goal of using nuclear propulsion for the deep space travel revolution. Related information can be found here .