Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO)
Abstract
Maintaining U.S. interests in cislunar space requires a leap-ahead propulsion technology. Current space propulsion includes electric (high efficiency but low thrust) and chemical (high thrust but low efficiency). The Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program is developing and demonstrating a High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) system on orbit by 2025. The NTP technology demonstrated by DRACO achieves thrust similar to chemical systems, 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, a volume that is in danger of being defined by the adversary.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2023
- Source ID
- 98d4ce44177d450ff30547431f9c9ee6