Space nuclear systems offer substantial advantages for cislunar and deep-space missions. These advantages include reduced crew transit times, decreased exposure to radiation and increased flight safety margins. Growing interest in lunar exploration and human travel to Mars fuels the demand for advanced space reactor technology. BWXT is at the forefront of development of systems for in-space power and propulsion that can create capability essential to the future of exploration.  

Our Advanced Technologies subsidiary has been involved with NASA and the Department of Energy’s groundbreaking Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) design since 2017, focusing on fuel design and engineering, work we continue to support today. 

In 2023, we were selected, as part of a joint venture, to deliver the fuel and reactor for the DARPA DRACO program, a partnership between DARPA and NASA to develop a nuclear thermal rocket engine for an in-space demonstration.