The accelerating space science with nuclear technology grant s goal is to support a meeting of nuclear propulsion and power innovators (nuclear community) and the space science community to…

The Institute For Space Science And Development Incorporated received a $105,712.92 Project Grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under the Space Technology program (CFDA 43.012), awarded on May 20, 2025, with completion targeted for August 20, 2026. The award supports a convergence meeting designed to bring together nuclear propulsion and power innovators with the space science community to identify synergies and opportunities for technology integration. The primary deliverable is a facilitated meeting that will explore how nuclear technology developments can enhance space science mission capabilities for outer planet exploration and beyond.

The meeting will generate technology demand signals from the space science community that will inform the subsequent development trajectory of nuclear technologies in both industrial and government sectors. By bridging these two traditionally separate communities, the grant aims to accelerate the advancement and infusion of relevant nuclear propulsion and power technologies that will enable more ambitious and far-reaching space science missions. The outputs from this convening activity will establish a roadmap for prioritizing nuclear technology development investments aligned with critical space science objectives.

The accelerating space science with nuclear technology grant s goal is to support a meeting of nuclear propulsion and power innovators (nuclear community) and the space science community to stimulate a convergence between the two. The meeting aims to explore ways to leverage the outputs of the nuclear community to achieve better space science mission goals and objectives accelerating the development of relevant nuclear technologies that will improve the ability to conduct better and more far-reaching space science missions to the outer planets and beyond. The technology demand signals that emerge from the meeting will shape the path and capabilities that emerge during the industrial and government development of nuclear technologies.