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The objective of this task is to help evaluate the feasibility of affordably producing tungsten (W) consisting of >95% W-184. If such "purified" tungsten can be produced, it could enable high performance (>900 s Isp) Nuclear Thermal Rockets (NTRs) fueled by low-enriched uranium (LEU) instead of highly enriched uranium. This in turn would reduce political, programmatic, cost and schedule concerns associated with the development of NTRs.
This technology could enable high performance Nuclear Thermal Rockets (NTRs) fueled by low-enriched uranium (LEU) instead of highly enriched uranium. This in turn would reduce political, programmatic, cost and schedule concerns associated with the development of NTRs.
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This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.
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