Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO)
Abstract
Maintaining U.S. interests in cislunar space requires significant advances in nuclear thermal propulsion technology. Current space propulsion includes electric (high efficiency but low thrust) and chemical (high thrust but low efficiency) systems. The Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program will develop and demonstrate a High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) system on orbit by FY27. The NTP technology demonstrated by DRACO will achieve thrust similar to chemical rockets, but with 2-5 times the efficiency. The enhanced performance afforded by NTP will allow the U.S. to lead operations in the cislunar volume, in particular for missions that require moving heavy cargo across large distances in a timely manner.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2024
- Source ID
- 451622a24d3a227b7298d53379296c3b