Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations

The DRACO program seeks to demonstrate a nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) system on orbit. This funding opportunity is for Phase 1 of the program, which is anticipated to last 18 months and consist of two tracks. Track A will entail the baseline design of a NTP reactor, include a Conceptual Design Review (CoDR) and Subsystem Requirements Review (SuRR) for the propulsion subsystem, and culminate in a Baseline Design Review (BDR) for the propulsion subsystem’s reactor. Track B will entail the design of an Operational System (OS) spacecraft concept to meet DoD mission objectives and the design of a Demonstration System (DS) spacecraft concept that is traceable to the OS but specifically focuses on demonstrating the propulsion subsystem of the OS. Track B will include a Conceptual Design Review (CoDR) and a System Requirements Review (SRR) for the OS and DS and culminate in a Technology Maturation Plan Review (TMPR) for the DS. Key objectives of the DRACO program are classified; only proposals that address the classified aspects will be eligible for funding under this announcement.