U.S. Space Nuclear Programs Face Challenges in Fuel Supply and Workforce Development
U.S. space nuclear programs, including NASA's Space Reactor 1 Freedom project and the Lunar Reactor 1 effort, are experiencing a surge in interest but are simultaneously confronting significant near-term and long-term challenges. A key issue is the lack of a robust production line for ceramic high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuels, which are crucial for space nuclear reactors. The Department of Energy (DOE), currently the sole domestic supplier of HALEU, has allocated this fuel to NASA for the SR-1 mission and to several reactor companies, including Radiant. This growing demand for HALEU, also needed for terrestrial small modular reactors, creates a potential bottleneck in supply. Other challenges include supply chain vulnerabilities for reactor components, a limited workforce with combined nuclear and space expertise, and restricted access to ground test sites. These issues are being addressed as various government and commercial entities, such as the U.S. Army's Janus program for microreactors, pu... 
