Why America must win the race for nuclear-powered space exploration
By any measure, the space race is back. But unlike the Cold War-era competition, decided by the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, the moment of triumph will be less distinct than Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's planting the U.S. flag at Tranquility Base — and ultimately more consequential. Victory in this new contest — with entrants including the United States, China, Russia and India — will go to the program that first masters nuclear-powered space travel. This capability will determine who leads in space exploration, in space mining and manufacturing, in national security and in scientific discovery for decades to come.
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Washington Post
9 hours ago
- Washington Post
Why America must win the race for nuclear-powered space exploration
Elsayed Talaat is president and chief executive officer of the Universities Space Research Association. By any measure, the space race is back. But unlike the Cold War-era competition, decided by the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, the moment of triumph will be less distinct than Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's planting the U.S. flag at Tranquility Base — and ultimately more consequential. Victory in this new contest — with entrants including the United States, China, Russia and India — will go to the program that first masters nuclear-powered space travel. This capability will determine who leads in space exploration, in space mining and manufacturing, in national security and in scientific discovery for decades to come.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Read Part 2 about the birth of the nuclear navy ... in Oak Ridge
In the first part of this "Historically Speaking" series, the role of Oak Ridge National Laboratory's support for the U.S. Navy was featured. Now, we will look at the roles of the K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Plant and the Y-12 Plant (later known as the Y-12 National Security Complex). The K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Plant provided the first highly enriched uranium that was provided to the U.S. Navy. During the Cold War, the K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Plant was a significant producer of highly enriched uranium for both nuclear weapons and naval reactor fuel. The highly enriched uranium produced at K-25, along with that from the Portsmouth, Ohio plant, was essential for the U.S. Navy's nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers for the early years through the 1990s. The Y-12 National Security Complex has provided the highly enriched uranium for the Navy since 2002. From 1991 to 2002, existing highly enriched uranium that was in the production stream was sufficient, but the transition to the conversion of dismantled nuclear weapons material also began during the later years of this period. For the foreseeable future, Y-12 will continue to provide for the U.S. Navy's highly enriched uranium needs. The Y-12 National Security Complex played a significant and unique role in the USS Seawolf project, particularly concerning its propulsor (the system that propels the submarine, including the propeller itself). This was a significant opportunity for the nation to see the uniqueness of Y-12's manufacturing capabilities beyond just nuclear weapons components. In the late 1980s, the U.S. Navy designed the Seawolf-class (SSN-21) submarines intended to be exceptionally fast and quiet. One of the main elements was an innovative propulsor design. The Navy faced a significant manufacturing challenge with the complex, precision-machined components needed for this new propulsor. Through ORNL connections that existed, the Y-12 Plant's precise and advanced manufacturing capabilities needed for nuclear weapons components were recommended to the Navy. Also, no other potential contractors would undertake the schedule or technical difficulties the Navy desired. Y-12 accepted the task of manufacturing a full-scale prototype propulsor. Y-12 acquired a large five-axis, computer-controlled milling machine as well as a massive lathe, and even added a 6,500-square-foot wing to the Alpha 1 machine shop. The project began in 1989 and was delivered in three subassemblies in 1993, ahead of schedule and within budget. In recognition of this tremendous manufacturing accomplishment, the U.S. Congress designated Y-12 as a National Prototype Center. Y-12 also made the third subassembly for the second Seawolf submarine, spare parts for the propulsors, and transferred the manufacturing process to the U.S. Navy. Y-12 also contributed to the later Virginia-class submarine program. The designation, in 1997, as one of the nation's National Prototype Centers has enabled Y-12 to assist other government agencies and become recognized as one of the nation's most capable precision machining centers. Oak Ridge, with the expertise of ORNL, Y-12, and the recent emphasis on a vital role in the nation's nuclear renaissance, which is resulting in new industry related to processing nuclear fuel for small modular reactors, as well as the small modular reactors being built here, is again leading the nation toward advancements in nuclear energy. The collective efforts of Oak Ridge's scientific and industrial workforce profoundly shaped the trajectory of the nuclear navy. The seamless transfer of technology and expertise between ORNL, Y-12, the K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Plant, and the Navy fueled not only the physical development of submarines and their reactors, but also established a culture of rigorous precision and innovation. As submarines and aircraft carriers evolved, the partnerships that had proved so fruitful for the Seawolf's propulsor continued to bear fruit in new reactor designs, advanced manufacturing, and materials science. This synergy also fostered a spirit of collaboration beyond military applications, as Oak Ridge's role in nuclear energy broadened to support civilian advancements. The city's legacy is seen not only in deployed vessels, but in the ongoing education and training of engineers, machinists, and scientists who continue to push the boundaries of nuclear technology. Today, the U.S. nuclear navy consists of more than 70 nuclear-powered submarines, including ballistic missile submarines, such as the Ohio-class, equipped with Trident II missiles for nuclear deterrence; attack submarines, like the Virginia-class, which are designed for intelligence, surveillance, and anti-submarine warfare; and, 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, including the Nimitz- and Ford-class carriers, which provide unmatched global reach and sustained air power. These vessels can operate for more than 20 years without refueling thanks to their compact and efficient pressurized water reactors. Modern naval reactors are designed for high-power output, long-core life, and strict containment, embodying lessons from Oak Ridge and the legacy of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover's discipline. Nuclear navy display for Oak Ridge In recognition of the importance of the birth of the nuclear navy in Oak Ridge in 1946, a prominent monument that tells that story is being planned. The USS Houston submarine has been decommissioned and is scheduled for demolition. The conning tower (known as the 'sail') of the USS Houston is being requested by the American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation for display in the city of Oak Ridge. The scheduled demolition of the submarine will be completed by October 2026. We plan to have a statue of Admiral Rickover and Alvin Weinberg located with the sail. The statues are being created by Oak Ridge High School's Wildcat Manufacturing. The intention is to 3-D print them and to have them be interactive using artificial intelligence. This is part of the 'Giants of Oak Ridge' statue project that the Wildcat Manufacturing team of high school students is undertaking. The location chosen for the display is just south of the Secret City Commemorative Walk and is being included in a master plan for the redevelopment of A.K. Bissell Park. The plans for the USS Houston sail and "Giants of Oak Ridge" statues are also being included in the current Oak Ridge Master Plan update effort. In conclusion, the birth of the U.S. Navy's nuclear navy, one of the most significant elements of nuclear deterrence for the nation, had its origin in Oak Ridge. Because of the efforts of Admiral Rickover and Alvin Weinberg, substantial advancement of the understanding of how to effectively use nuclear power resulted in advances in the use of the amazing new potential of the Nuclear Age. Both of them easily qualify as being among the 'Giants of Oak Ridge.' Other individuals who will be recognized in the future as 'Giants of Oak Ridge' will be identified, and 3D-printed statues of them will be placed in locations yet to be determined. One example of a probable location might be the history walk being considered as part of the Bissell Park redevelopment planning. D. Ray Smith is the city of Oak Ridge historian. His "Historically Speaking" columns are published weekly in The Oak Ridger. This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Oak Ridge: The birth of the nuclear navy, Part 2 Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
AbCellera Biologics (ABCL) Advances Proprietary Pipeline with Promising Phase 1 Trial Results
We recently published . AbCellera Biologics Inc. (NASDAQ:ABCL) is one of the best healthcare stocks. AbCellera Biologics Inc. (NASDAQ:ABCL) is a biotech company specializing in discovering and developing therapeutic antibodies across various disease areas, including cancer, metabolic, endocrine, and autoimmune disorders. Their integrated platform combines technology, data science, and collaboration to identify promising antibody candidates. In recent developments, AbCellera Biologics Inc. (NASDAQ:ABCL) began dosing participants in a Phase 1 clinical trial for ABCL635, targeting vasomotor symptoms related to menopause, marking a key clinical milestone. The company reported strong Q2 2025 revenue growth, beating expectations and advancing both internal and partnered antibody programs despite ongoing net losses. Some analysts note that its innovative pipeline and expanding clinical presence could place it among the best healthcare stocks to watch in the biotech space. Photo by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash This Phase 1 trial signals the corporation's shift from primarily a discovery platform to a clinical-stage biotech with proprietary assets. Progress with ABCL635 addresses a significant unmet medical need and validates its platform's potential to develop first-in-class therapeutics. While we acknowledge the potential of ABCL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
