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The article discusses the reliance of the naval technology on electrical power. Topics include the nine nuclear-powered cruisers (CGNs) commissioned by the U.S. through out the Cold War in the beginning of 1961, the design of receptor required by the nuclear propulsion for destroyers, and the potential of the nuclear-powered warship in passing through flank speed.

The article focuses on the history of the development of submarines in the U.S. It mentions that the Nautilus, built in 1800 by Robert Fulton, was equipped with ballast tanks and a horizontal rudder. Some of the other submarines discussed include H. L. Hunley, USS Holland developed by engineer, John P. Holland, and USS Thresher (SSN-593), a derivative of nuclear propulsion and equipped with four torpedo tubes.

Reports on the better capacity factors of the U.S. fleet of nuclear reactors for the three-year period 2003-2005 than in 2000-2002. Percentage increase of the median design electrical rating (DER) net capacity factor; Bottom quartile in the 2003-2005 period; Median boiling water reactors (BWR) factor in the 2003-2005 period.

Presents nuclear technology experts' views about space nuclear power and propulsion projects in the United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Project Prometheus aiming to develop nuclear electric power-plant for the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter; Plans to develop advanced technology nuclear radioisotope power systems; Risks involved in the development and use of nuclear propulsion systems.

The article discusses the author's experiences of being enlisted as a seaman recruit in the U.S. Navy. He participated in the Nuclear Propulsion Program, a two-and-a-half year course designed to train technicians for nuclear-powered submarines. He studied thermodynamics, reactor physics and radiological controls for another six months. He remembered that he and his colleagues used to laugh at claims by anti-nuclear protestors that real submarines were replacing depleted nuclear fuel cells at their base.

In 1952, the cold war and the arms race prompted the U.S. Air Force, and the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to underwrite the development of an under-the-radar-screen supersonic low-altitude missile (SLAM), a cruise missile capable of extended missions carrying up to 12 hydrogen bombs that could be released at low altitude over successive targets. The missile's nuclear ramjet propulsion system would superheat the incoming air blast, ejecting it at a velocity that would thrust the missile forward at six times the speed of the V-1. The entire project was code named Pluto and the nuclear engine was code named Tory. The development contract was awarded to the University of California's Ernest O. Lawrence Radiation Laboratory (now the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) in Livermore, 30 miles east of San Francisco, California. On July 1, 1964, the Air Force and the AEC canceled Project Pluto. Perhaps the most compelling reason for killing the project was that the United States was now deploying intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

Provides a history of the use of nuclear propulsion in the U.S. Advantage of using nuclear propulsion; System under nuclear propulsion; Information on the nuclear rocket technology initiative called the Project Rover which will be used in outer space exploration.

The article examines the potential of ion propulsion for rockets as a new contender for propelling vehicles through space. It is noted that chemical propellants and problems with nuclear rockets have contributed to the emergence of ion propulsion as an alternative to conventional propellants. The biggest share of the development money for electrical propulsion in the U.S. is received by ion engines.

Reveals that Pentagon documents released by the Federation of American Scientists warn that proposed testing of a nuclear powered rocket could send a nuclear reactor crashing into New Zealand. Military program code-named Timberwind; Funding from the Strategic Defense Initiative program; Potential environmental disaster; Comment of Steve Aftergood, researcher at the Federation of American Scientists; Results of analysis by Sandia National Laboratories.

The article focuses on the developments of nuclear power by U.S. Navy, in relation to the success of submarine Nautilus. It relates the Navy's proposal programs, which include several reactors and experimental prototypes, exercising the advantages of applying nuclear power in naval warfare. It mentions that nuclear carriers does not consist ducts while submarines were stealthy. It notes the submarine Albacore which, along with Nautilus, inspired the creation of Skipjack by Electric Boat Corp.

The article reports that the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in a major advancement for robotic exploration, is moving quickly to make space nuclear power, and eventually nuclear propulsion, an inherent design element in near-term, medium-cost planetary missions. The objective will be to open previously isolated areas of the Solar System for robotic exploration as early as 2013.

Reports developments on defense industry in the United States as of January 2002. Development of unmanned combat air vehicle by the U.S. Navy; Proposal of nuclear propulsion by the U.S. Energy Department and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Program reviews of Space-Based Infrared System.

The article reports on a cheating incident on a nuclear propulsion test involving 13 U.S. sailors aboard the aircraft Harry S. Truman in early May 2009. According to Lukas McMichael, a spokesman for Naval Nuclear Propulsion director Admiral Kirkland Donald, the Navy punished the eight sailors by removing their nuclear Navy enlisted classifications. McMichael cites that the service allowed the five sailors to keep their nuclear qualifications following captain's mast. It notes that after the incident, the nearly 300 sailors retook the test.

The article focuses on the nuclear and future flight propulsion in the U.S. Concepts for the atmospheric mining of the outer planets were investigated by researchers at the John H. Glenn Research Center of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration in Cleveland, Ohio. Studies of fusion-powered interplanetary spacecraft were conducted by the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. 10 papers on the emerging field of breakthrough propulsion physics were included by the July Joint Propulsion Conference.

Provides information on topics discussed at the Space Nuclear Conference in the U.S. in 2005. Changes in the Project Prometheus embryonic space nuclear program of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Use of superconducting magnets in propulsion system according to Samuel Ting, professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge; Priorities set by the NASA for Project Prometheus, including nuclear electric propulsion.

Addresses several issues that will play a significant role in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's plans for a lunar base and expeditions to Mars. Weightlessness; Replacing the space-shuttle fleet; Proposed use of nuclear-propulsion technology.

The article discusses significant developments in nuclear and flight propulsion in 2010. An overview of the six aerospace studies of atmospheric mining performed by Case Western Reserve with the assistance by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center is given. Some developments for laser-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) are discussed, including the concept of fast ignition which is efficient in providing high gains and maintaining low electron temperatures.

The article reports on cheating in nuclear propulsion test by 13 U.S. sailors aboard the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman in May 2009. The incident is the third involving the carrier. Lukas McMichael, spokesman for Naval Nuclear Propulsion director Admiral Kirkland Donald, said that the Navy removed the enlisted classifications of eight sailors as a disciplinary action while the other five were allowed to keep theirs following a captain's mast. As a result, nearly 300 sailors retook the test.

The article reports on the major shortage of nuclear-trained sailors and officers in the U.S. Navy according to chief of naval personnel, Vice Admiral Mark Ferguson. In a hearing of the House Appropriations Committee defense subcommittee on March 19, 2009, Ferguson told lawmakers the Navy is short 452 nuclear-trained officers from ensign to captain and 922 enlisted sailors trained in nuclear propulsion. Ferguson also told the committee that the service will attempt to remedy the shortfalls with selective re-enlistment bonuses.

The article concerns the proposal of Representatives Gene Taylor and Roscoe Bartlett that the U.S. Navy should be required to use nuclear propulsion to fuel large ships. It is inferred that some senators have argued that the 2008 defense authorization bill for nuclear power to be used for cruisers in light of the rising cost of fossil fuels would be too costly. Both Taylor and Bartlett argue that it is cheaper to go nuclear in the long run.

Reports on the approval of an amendment to the 2007 Defense Authorization Act by the U.S. House Armed Services Committee which would require someone in the U.S. Navy to take responsibility for shipbuilding costs incurred by the force. Intention of U.S. Representative Gene Taylor (R-Miss.) to impose financial discipline on the Navy; Influence of rising ship costs on the decision of the committee to reject an amendment involving the purchase of three aircraft carriers by 2019; Recommendation of the committee for the Navy to consider using nuclear propulsion.

This article focuses on the nuclear-powered submarine USS Nautilus. On January 21, 1954, at the shipyard of the Electric Boat Co. at Groton, Connecticut, the USS Nautilus was launched. This marked the culmination of a vision that began in 1939 with Ross Gunn at the Naval Research Laboratory, who suggested that nuclear power would enormously increase the range and military effectiveness of a submarine. After 10 years of research into reactor development, a Submarine Officers Conference held in March 1949 endorsed the concept of building a nuclear propulsion system for installation in a submarine in January 1955.

Discusses developments in the area of nuclear and future flight propulsion in the United States aerospace industry for 2003. Andrewspace's research on improving the original Orion nuclear pulse propulsion concept; Experiments at Sandia National Laboratory using the Saturn and Z-pinch pulsed-power machines; U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Marshall's exploration of innovative technologies for solar salt propulsion systems.

Announces that the United States has purchased an unfueled Soviet Topaz 2 space nuclear power system. Estimated costs of a Soviet space nuclear reactor; Cooperation between the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Defense; How several Soviet engineers will assist in set-up and initial testing of the Topaz 2 system.

This article reports that during the past few years hundreds of major conventional components, such as steam generators, have been produced for naval nuclear-propulsion plants in the U.S. Less than 10 percent have been delivered on time. Reinspection showed that over 50 percent had to be reworked to meet contract requirements. In one case the strength properties of a common material, as given by the manufacturer, were found on test to be 30 percent too high. When a reactor component failed to function properly not long ago, its failure was traced to the use of the wrong material in a pin. Yet this component had passed quality-control inspection.