A breakthrough in nuclear fuel technology has successfully tested the endurance of a new nuclear fuel that can withstand the extreme conditions required for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) systems. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) demonstrated that the fuel can survive temperatures up to 2,326°C and highly reactive hydrogen gas without degrading or cracking.
Currently, chemical rockets are limited in their capabilities. NTP systems aim to provide more power than traditional engines, enabling faster space travel and large crewed missions to Mars. GA-EMS’ new fuel has shown promise in this area, with tests conducted at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center reaching temperatures up to 3,000°C. The company plans to continue testing the fuel to meet performance requirements for future cislunar and Mars mission architectures.
Source: https://newatlas.com/space/nuclear-reactor-fuel-survives-rocket-engine-conditions