Nuclear Propulsion in Space (1968) - NERVA, NASA/AEC documentary, nuclear rocket, Mars mission

NASA / AEC documentary from 1968 about nuclear propulsion in space and NERVA. Possible application for a Mars mission is shown using animation. NERVA rocket test footage is also present. Color correction by RetroSpace HD, original footage from the National Archives. ==================================== The Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application (NERVA) was a nuclear thermal rocket engine development program that ran for roughly two decades. Its principal objective was to “establish a technology base for nuclear rocket engine systems to be utilized in the design and development of propulsion systems for space mission application“. NERVA was a joint effort of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and was managed by the Space Nuclear Propulsion Office (SNPO) until the program ended in January 1973. SNPO was led by NASA’s Harold Finger and AEC’s Milton Klein. NERVA had its origins in Project Rover, an AEC research project at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) with the initial aim of providing a nuclear-powered upper stage for the United States Air Force intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are more powerful than chemical engines. After the formation of NASA in 1958, Project Rover was continued as a civilian project and was reoriented to producing a nuclear powered upper stage for NASA’s Saturn V Moon rocket. Reactors were tested at very low power before being shipped to Jackass Flats in the Nevada Test Site. While LASL concentrated on reactor development. NASA built and tested complete rocket engines. The AEC, SNPO, and NASA considered NERVA to be a highly successful program in that it met or exceeded its program goals. NERVA demonstrated that nuclear thermal rocket engines were a feasible and reliable tool for space exploration, and at the end of 1968 SNPO certified that the latest NERVA engine, the XE, met the requirements for a human mission to Mars. It had strong political support from Senators Clinton P. Anderson and Margaret Chase Smith but was cancelled by President Richard Nixon in 1973. Although NERVA engines were built and tested as much as possible with flight-certified components and the engine was deemed ready for integration into a spacecraft, they never flew in space. Plans for deep space exploration generally require the power of nuclear rocket engines, and all spacecraft concepts featuring them use derivative designs from the NERVA. ========================================= A special thanks to the channel supporters ( ): * Bill Hurley * Darcy Barrett * Gary Smith * Gio Pagliari * Noah Soderquist * Ryan Hardy * Scott Manley ======================================== #nasa #nerva #nuclear