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119-hr-10750119th Congress

Advanced Nuclear Fission and Fusion Propulsion Systems Act

Sponsored By: Representative Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create a pilot program to demonstrate and reduce risk for advanced nuclear propulsion systems in space. It focuses on both fission and fusion engines to inform future national security space missions beyond geosynchronous orbit, including cislunar operations.

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  • Space operators and planners would get technical data and risk assessments to shape requirements for missions beyond GEO and for cislunar operations. This includes on-orbit data to assess propulsion performance, operability, and reliability.
  • Aerospace companies and technology developers could be selected to run ground and in-space demonstrations under Air Force Research Laboratory oversight at Edwards Air Force Base. Selection favors prior prototype work and aims for in-space demonstrations within three years if the program proceeds.
  • Congress would receive a program plan before the pilot starts and a report within one year detailing the demonstration concepts, technical objectives and success criteria, major risks and mitigations, and an assessment of parallel efforts by the Peoples Republic of China.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Pilot for nuclear space propulsion

This bill would let the Secretary of the Air Force create a pilot for in-space demonstrations of advanced nuclear fission and fusion propulsion. The Secretary would have to establish the pilot within 180 days after enactment. If carried out, in-space demonstrations would occur no later than three years after enactment under AFRL Rocket Propulsion Division oversight at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Before starting the pilot, the Secretary would send a program plan to the congressional defense committees. If carried out, the Secretary would send a report to those committees within one year after enactment with objectives, risks, timeline, and assessments of China's parallel efforts. The pilot would set technical objectives and success criteria, develop a CONOPS and test plan, run needed ground tests, help get launch services, collect on-orbit data, and assess cislunar use cases. The bill specifies no funding amount or direct household payments.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]

CA • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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