Advances in Nuclear Thermal and Electric Propulsion
A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "B4: Nuclear Energy".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 27 January 2026 | Viewed by 7
Special Issue Editor
Interests: reactor kinetics and dynamics; neutronics; thermal hydraulics; multiphysics simulation; advanced numerical methods; applied mathematics; machine learning and artificial intelligence; high-performance computing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue delves into the cutting-edge realm of nuclear propulsion technologies, focusing on both nuclear thermal and electric propulsion systems. The collection features a series of articles that explore recent advancements, design principles, and performance evaluations of these propulsion methods, offering insights into their potential to revolutionize space travel.
Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) utilizes nuclear reactors to heat propellant to high temperatures, providing efficient thrust and significant reductions in travel time for deep space missions. This Special Issue covers the engineering challenges, safety mechanisms, and experimental results associated with NTP, highlighting its capability to enable more ambitious exploratory missions beyond the current reach of chemical rockets.
Nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) converts nuclear energy into electric power, driving thrusters that provide a steady and efficient thrust over long durations. This part of the Issue reviews advances in reactor designs, power conversion systems, and ion/plasma thruster technologies, showcasing NEP's potential for sustained operations and cargo missions within the solar system.
Together, the articles aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state and future prospects of nuclear propulsion, discussing the economic, environmental, and regulatory considerations crucial for the development and deployment of these technologies. This Special Issue aspires to foster further research and collaboration in the quest to expand the frontiers of human space exploration.
Topics of interest for this Special Issue include the following:
- Nuclear reactor designs for space propulsion;
- Thermal management systems in NTP and NEP;
- Fuel options and safety protocols for nuclear propulsion;
- Material advancements for high-temperature and radiation environments;
- Power conversion technologies in NEP;
- Ion and plasma thruster advancements and performance;
- Mission planning and trajectory analysis for nuclear-propelled spacecraft;
- Economic, environmental, and regulatory considerations;
- Comparative analyses of NTP and NEP efficiencies;
- Potential applications beyond propulsion, such as auxiliary power and scientific instruments.
Dr. Justin Watson
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP)
- nuclear electric propulsion (NEP)
- high-temperature propellant
- electric thrusters
- thermal management
- space exploration
- deep space missions
- ion thrusters
- plasma thrusters
- propulsion efficiency
- advanced materials
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
