Flying Reactors: The Political Feasibility of Nuclear Power in Space

This paper addresses the question: What mechanism(s) would improve the political feasibility of a nuclear power program for US space operations? For a period of more than 50 years, the United States has been exploring the potential of nuclear-powered reactors for use in a variety of space-based applications. From the earliest days, there have been numerous challenges--some technical, many political--that have impeded progress in every program that the United States has considered. The issues surrounding space nuclear power (SNP) are complex and multifaceted. For the United States, the development of SNP lies at the intersection of program cost benefit and the social perception of risk. The actual decision to employ SNP is finally political--encompassing political judgment, will, and acceptance of risk. But if the current climate surrounding nuclear use remains manifest, the future for SNP looks politically challenging. The specter of a Delta IV rocket carrying a nuclear-powered satellite exploding on launch from Florida is an outcome the US government and its agencies would rather not confront. Though that has never happened, it remains the type of image that the anti-SNP lobby, under the umbrella of groups like the Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice (FCPJ), presents as a potential outcome of SNP programs. The original document contains color images.