Lockheed and BWXT win $500 million to build nuclear rocket engine
Two years ago, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) decided to go where no man had gone before—and more specifically, to go where no man (or woman) had gone before in a way no human had ever gone before: a spaceship nuclear powered.
DARPA offered $27.6 million in compensation and invited General Atomics, Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT ) to an 18-month project to design a "Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations" (DRACO). In this effort, Blue Origin would compete with Lockheed Martin to develop the spacecraft design, while General Atomics would focus on developing the nuclear thermal power (NTP) engine to power it. (The engine would use nuclear fuel to heat a hydrogen propellant that, when expelled, would propel the craft through space).Two years after this effort began, we can report some progress.
And the winners are...
First and foremost, this is no longer just a DARPA effort. DARPA partnered with NASA in January to work together on the project, with the goal of demonstrating a nuclear-powered spacecraft in high Earth orbit by 2027 at the latest.
The effort will be led by Lockheed Martin, which apparently beat out Blue Origin for the honor. Meanwhile, privately held General Atomics -- DARPA's favorite contractor for building the engine -- was swapped out in favor of NASA's favorite publicly traded nuclear component maker BWX Technologies (NYSE: BWXT ).
The happy result of this switcheroo is that space investors now have two ways to invest in nuclear-powered spacecraft, where they previously only had one publicly traded option in DARPA's original proposal—Lockheed.
Why nuclear?
The goal of this project is to develop a nuclear space engine two to five times more efficient than the chemical rockets that power current spacecraft. And while NASA won't put a price tag on the cost savings of such efficiency, the practical benefits are already good enough.
Currently, you see, when NASA wants to send a spacecraft to Mars, it has to wait until Earth and Mars are in close proximity to reduce the travel time to about seven months, which reduces fuel consumption and allows for larger payloads. . However, switching from chemical rockets to nuclear power would allow interplanetary travel at any time of the year while reducing travel time to just three months. This reduces the amount of time astronauts are exposed to dangerous solar radiation while traveling to and from Mars and generates additional savings in food and life support costs.But first, DARPA needs to test how well these new nuclear engines will perform in space.
Introducing HALEA
The specific engine that BWX Technologies will develop for integration into the Lockheed Martin spacecraft is called the "high-assay low-enriched uranium" or HALEU engine. In a conference call with reporters to discuss the engine last week, NASA and company executives explained the precautions they are taking to ensure the safety of the test, including keeping the engine in an inert state during launch from Earth and placing it in orbit at least 700 kilometers above Earth before testing. (Even if control of the spacecraft was lost, it would take 300 years for that orbit to decay and the spacecraft to fall back to the planet.)
Said spacecraft will be small — small enough to fit inside the fairing of a conventional medium-heavy rocket such as SpaceX's Falcon 9 or the new Vulcan Centaur rocket (soon to be launched by Boeing and subsidiary Lockheed Martin United). Start Alliance).
Lockheed and BWX expect to be able to launch the DRACO demonstration spacecraft in late 2025 or early 2026, allowing enough time to meet the 2027 deadline to begin in-orbit engine testing. Testing will then last as long as the vessel's fuel supply lasts - probably several months.
Because it will be the first orbital test of HALEU. NASA and DARPA will likely tweak the design later - perhaps several times - before using it to build larger nuclear-powered spacecraft. However, given how quickly the project is progressing, it may not be too long before HALEU engines start to be installed on intrasolar spacecraft as a matter of course. And in that case it makes sense that Lockheed and BWX would become builders of such spacecraft.
Meanwhile, DRACO is no small task for Lockheed and its partner. As revealed on the conference call, Lockheed and BWX will split a total of $499 million for their work on DRACO.It's obviously a bigger deal for BWX, which earned just $2.2 billion last year than for Lockheed. But even for a defense giant like Lockheed Martin, $250 million is a hefty sum—and with the potential to turn into a nice source of revenue in future years if DRACO is successful.
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In a landmark step towards space exploration, aerospace giants Lockheed Martin and BWXT have been awarded a monumental $500 million contract by the US Department of Defense to jointly develop a state-of-the-art nuclear rocket engine. This strategic partnership marks a significant leap forward in space propulsion technology and could revolutionize space travel and exploration. Let's dive into the details of this exciting development and explore the potential implications for the aviation industry.
Nuclear rocket engine project
An ambitious nuclear rocket engine project led by Lockheed Martin and BWXT aims to use advanced nuclear technology to create a propulsion system that promises to be more efficient and powerful than traditional chemical rockets. This cutting-edge technology has the potential to drastically reduce travel times for missions to distant celestial bodies, making space exploration more practical and cost-effective in the long run.
Advantages of nuclear missile technology
A nuclear rocket engine offers several advantages that set it apart from conventional propulsion systems. It uses nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP), which involves heating the propellant with a nuclear reactor, resulting in significantly higher exhaust velocities compared to chemical rockets. This increased efficiency translates into higher thrust and ultimately reduced mission duration.
In addition, the NTP system could enable faster and more frequent manned missions to Mars, the Moon, and even beyond our solar system. This groundbreaking advance has the potential to revolutionize space travel, opening new frontiers for scientific research, resource extraction and even space tourism.
Efficiency of space exploration
One of the main challenges in space exploration has always been the vast distances and time required to travel through space. With the adoption of nuclear rocket technology, missions that once took months or years could be completed in a fraction of the time. This efficiency not only saves valuable resources, but also mitigates the health risks and challenges that extended missions present to astronauts.
Strengthening national security
In addition to its potential applications in peaceful space exploration, nuclear missile technology could also enhance national security. Faster and more flexible transportation of military assets to any corner of the world could improve strategic response capabilities. The inherent scalability of nuclear missiles may also enable more agile military operations and provide a critical advantage in future conflicts.
Environmental considerations
Although nuclear propulsion offers immense advantages, it is necessary to address the environmental issues associated with nuclear technology. Lockheed Martin and BWXT have assured the public that they will follow strict safety protocols and environmentally friendly procedures during the development and implementation of the nuclear rocket engine.
The recent $500 million contract awarded to Lockheed Martin and BWXT to develop a nuclear rocket engine marks a giant leap toward revolutionizing space exploration and propulsion technology. With the potential to reduce travel time and transform space missions, this partnership holds promise for humanity's quest to further explore space.
As development progresses, it is vital that both industry and the public remain informed of the safety measures and environmental aspects implemented during the project. By responsibly embracing advanced nuclear technology, we can unlock the full potential of space exploration while protecting the well-being of our planet. The joint effort of Lockheed Martin and BWXT is poised to redefine our understanding of space travel and inspire generations of innovators to reach for the stars.
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