Photos: NASA aces first flight reactor cold-flow tests since 1960s for deep space travel

NASA has successfully completed its first cold-flow test campaign since the 1960s for a flight reactor engineering development unit, marking a significant advancement in nuclear propulsion and power technologies critical for deep space exploration. Conducted at the Marshall Space Flight Center, these tests involved over 100 runs on a full-scale, non-nuclear test article built by BWX Technologies, simulating propellant flow under various operational conditions. The data gathered helps engineers understand fluid dynamics and reactor stability, confirming the design’s resistance to flow-induced oscillations and vibrations, which are vital for mission safety. This milestone results from a multi-year collaboration between NASA and industry partners aimed at developing flight-capable nuclear propulsion systems. Nuclear technology promises faster travel times, increased payload capacity, and enhanced communication capabilities, enabling more complex and data-intensive missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The successful testing campaign provides essential technical data required to transition the technology from development toward practical application, supporting NASA’s long-term goals for sustained human and scientific exploration