ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
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Division Spotlight
Robotics & Remote Systems
The Mission of the Robotics and Remote Systems Division is to promote the development and application of immersive simulation, robotics, and remote systems for hazardous environments for the purpose of reducing hazardous exposure to individuals, reducing environmental hazards and reducing the cost of performing work.
Meeting Spotlight
International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering (M&C 2025)
April 27–30, 2025
Denver, CO|The Westin Denver Downtown
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
Apr 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
TerraPower begins U.K. regulatory approval process
Seattle-based TerraPower signaled its interest this week in building its Natrium small modular reactor in the United Kingdom, the company announced.
TerraPower sent a letter to the U.K.’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, formally establishing its intention to enter the U.K. generic design assessment (GDA) process. This is TerraPower’s first step in deployment of its Natrium technology—a 345-MW sodium fast reactor coupled with a molten salt energy storage unit—on the international stage.
Daniel L. P. Watson, Ronald Daryll E. Gatchalian, Hui-Yu Hsieh, Pramatha Bhat, Pavel V. Tsvetkov
Nuclear Technology | Volume 211 | Number 1 | April 2025 | Pages S49-S61
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2423144
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A fast spectrum surface fission power microreactor for lunar deployment is conceptualized and modeled utilizing the primary design drivers of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy mass constraints, a 10-year operation lifetime, high-assay low-enrichment uranium fuel enrichment, a 100-kW(electric) system power rating, and a Stirling conversion cycle. The reactor is demonstrated to remain subcritical during launch accidents resulting in oceanic submersion and throughout control system failures in the highest reactivity positions. Neutron shielding requirements for the high-leakage core were satisfied with 40 cm of natural enrichment LiH at 100% solid density, while photon shielding for the reactor at full power exceeded the in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration scope of work design requirement 18960 DR-3 of 5 rem·y−1 at rates of 30 rem·y−1 for a 1-km standoff. A conversion cycle was approximated using an experimental carbon-carbon thermal radiator coupled with published analytical and experimental results for free-piston Stirling systems.