Nuclear energy remains an attractive potential means of propulsion for future spacecraft. When compared with conventional rocket engines, a nuclear propulsion system would in theory be less massive, and could provide sustained thrust with greater...

Nuclear propulsion includes a wide variety of propulsion methods that use some form of nuclear reaction as their primary power source. Many military submarines and a growing figure - with crude prices and emission in mind - of large surface ships,...

IN FEBRUARY, THE NAtional Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) christened its nuclear propulsion and power generation program Project Prometheus. But if NASA is determined to use names from Greek mythology, Project Phoenix might be more apropos. Project Prometheus (launched as the Nuclear...

HOW DID THE U.S. NAVY GET INVOLVED in a ponderous, pricey, and ultimately pathetic effort to achieve nuclear-powered flight? The Navy was the post-World War II leader in supporting research for technological innovations intended to strengthen U.S. military might;l the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Project...

Independent arms control experts from 15 countries are drafting a treaty to ban production of uranium and plutonium for nuclear weapons that could rival a U.S. text under consideration by the U.N.'s top disarmament body.Frank von Hippel, a professor of public and international affairs at...