Nuclear propulsion in space: how and why?
Space Nuclear Propulsion Systems

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Nuclear propulsion in space: how and why?


Space Nuclear Propulsion Systems

Author : Éric PROUST

Publication date: October 10, 2025 | Lire en français

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1. Nuclear propulsion in space: how and why?

Current space propulsion technologies, chemical and solar electric, are approaching their physical limits beyond which any improvement in performance is impossible. Nuclear space propulsion technologies, which make it possible to overcome these limits, open up essential prospects for the realization of the next ambitious stages of advanced robotic and human space exploration and the exploitation of its resources.

1.1 Current technologies and the physical limits of their performance

The space transportation sector is constantly evolving, moving from dedicated launches for each destination in space to an optimized multi-transport ecosystem. Two distinct segments are currently being developed. First, the "ground-to-space" segment, with reusable launch vehicles...

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