ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Nuclear Criticality Safety
NCSD provides communication among nuclear criticality safety professionals through the development of standards, the evolution of training methods and materials, the presentation of technical data and procedures, and the creation of specialty publications. In these ways, the division furthers the exchange of technical information on nuclear criticality safety with the ultimate goal of promoting the safe handling of fissionable materials outside reactors.
Meeting Spotlight
ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
Latest Magazine Issues
Feb 2025
Jul 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
March 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
February 2025
Latest News
Colin Judge: Testing structural materials in Idaho’s newest hot cell facility
Idaho National Laboratory’s newest facility—the Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL)—sits across the road from the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF), which started operating in 1975. SPL will host the first new hot cells at INL’s Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) in 50 years, giving INL researchers and partners new flexibility to test the structural properties of irradiated materials fresh from the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) or from a partner’s facility.
Materials meant to withstand extreme conditions in fission or fusion power plants must be tested under similar conditions and pushed past their breaking points so performance and limitations can be understood and improved. Once irradiated, materials samples can be cut down to size in SPL and packaged for testing in other facilities at INL or other national laboratories, commercial labs, or universities. But they can also be subjected to extreme thermal or corrosive conditions and mechanical testing right in SPL, explains Colin Judge, who, as INL’s division director for nuclear materials performance, oversees SPL and other facilities at the MFC.
SPL won’t go “hot” until January 2026, but Judge spoke with NN staff writer Susan Gallier about its capabilities as his team was moving instruments into the new facility.
Technical Session
Tuesday, May 10, 2022|10:30AM–12:30PM EDT|Vanda
Session Chairs:
Michelle Rucker (NASA)
Laura Burke (NASA)
Session Organizers:
Alternate Chair:
Michael Chappell (NASA)
To access paper attachments, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
Register NowLog In
1.9MWe Nuclear Electric Propulsion-Chemical Propulsion Piloted Mars Opposition Vehicle
Steven Oleson (NASA Glenn Research Center), Elizabeth Turnbull (NASA Glenn Research Center), Laura Burke (NASA Glenn Research Center), Thomas Packard (HX5), Lee Mason (NASA Glenn Research Center), James Fittje (Science Applications International Corp.), Anthony Colozza (HX5), Paul Schmitz (Power Computing Solutions), Steven McCarty (NASA Glenn Research Center), John Yim (NASA Glenn Research Center), Brandon Klefman (NASA Glenn Research Center), John Gyekenyesi (HX5), Brent Faller (NASA Glenn Research Center), David Smith (HX5), Lucia Tian (NASA Glenn Research Center), Caroline Austin (NASA Glenn Research Center), W. Peter Simon (NASA Glenn Research Center), Christopher Heldman (NASA Glenn Research Center), Onoufrios Theofylaktos (NASA Glenn Research Center), Christine Schmid (NASA Glenn Research Center), Thomas Parkey (NASA Glenn Research Center), Natalie Weckesser (NASA Glenn Research Center)
Paper
Subscale NTP Engines for Human Mars Missions
Christopher B. Reynolds (Aerojet Rocketdyne), C. Russell Joyner II (Aerojet Rocketdyne), Timothy Kokan (Aerojet Rocketdyne), Daniel J.H. Levack (Aerojet Rocketdyne)
Combined Nuclear Electric and Chemical Propulsion for Crewed Mars Opposition Missions
Laura Burke (NASA Glenn Research Center), Steven Oleson (NASA Glenn Research Center), David Smith (HX5)
A Dynamic Radioisotope Power System for a Pressurized Lunar/Mars Rover
Steve Oleson (NASA Glenn Research Center), Paul Schmitz (Power Computing Solutions), Michael B. Smith (ORNL), Tony Colozza (HX5), Lucia Tian (NASA Glenn Research Center), Brandon Klefman (NASA Glenn Research Center), Steven Korn (NASA Glenn Research Center), Max Chaiken (NASA Glenn Research Center), Tom Packard (HX5), Jim Fittje (Science Applications International Corp.), John Gyekenyesi (HX5), Elizabeth Turnbull (NASA Glenn Research Center)
Mass Modeling of NEP Power Conversion Concepts for Human Mars Exploration
William Machemer (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.), Matthew Duchek (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.), Christopher Harnack (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.), Emanuel Grella (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.), Dennis Nikitaev (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.), Corey D. Smith (Analytical Mechanics Assoc.)
To join the conversation, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
