By Jon Kelvey
April 1, 2024
NASA and DARPA think nuclear thermal propulsion could be the best way to get humans to Mars. Elon Musk is keeping his faith in the brute force of burning hydrocarbons. Who is right? It turns out either could work, but there are a lot of “ifs” for both strategies. Jon Kelvey has the analysis.
By Jon Kelvey
January 3, 2023
The United States has had multiple dalliances over the decades with in-space nuclear propulsion. The latest resurgence of interest is happening right now, driven by the desire to settle the moon and get humans to Mars. Jon Kelvey looks at the odds of success this time around.
By Jon Kelvey
November 1, 2022
By Ben Iannotta
July 1, 2021
By Ben Iannotta and Cat Hofacker
May 1, 2021
The space frontier can’t be settled with throwaway rockets and spacecraft. Last month’s Crew-2 mission to the space station showed that it’s possible to re-fly components on missions with people aboard, but the flight also illuminated the great care that SpaceX and NASA had to take to achieve this first. Refinements in processes will be needed to achieve longer-term cost savings without adding unacceptable risk. Ben Iannotta and Cat Hofacker report.
May 31, 2018
Thirty-five thousand kilometers is a long way up, and that’s the home of nearly 400 satellites that do anything from sending and receiving telephone, internet and television signals to spotting missile launches. Today, those satellites can’t be repaired, upgraded, refueled or rescued if their propulsion fails.
By Debra Werner
September 28, 2017
Space station experiment may reveal future for satellite solar arrays
By Keith Button
September 28, 2017
A deep look at one company's plan to go up against satellites with stratospheric balloons
By Debra Werner
August 31, 2017
Jordi Puig-Suari
By Irene Klotz
August 31, 2017
What it will take for reusable rockets to revolutionize access to space
By Keith Button
June 27, 2017
By Debra Werner
June 27, 2017
Coming up with best means of squeezing propulsion into a tiny package
By Debra Werner
May 31, 2017
Tim Hinerman, deputy BE-4 engine lead
By Ben Iannotta
March 6, 2017
By Keith Button
March 6, 2017
Experiment could move industry away from longtime propellant
By Ben Iannotta
February 9, 2017
A revolutionary weather satellite and the AIAA presidential election
By Adam Hadhazy
February 9, 2017
NASA researchers are eager to run more tests of their EmDrive
By Adam Hadhazy
October 18, 2016
NASA’s nuclear energy strategy faces its most ambitious test in 2017
By Debra Werner
October 18, 2016
Work to include a motor for module’s first astronaut mission
