Prometheus, ISS Research Cuts Help Pay for Shuttle and Hubble Repair Bills

NASA also plans to refocus Project Prometheus on the development of “space-qualified nuclear systems to support human and robotic missions” especially those needed to support NASA’s near term exploration goals. NASA started the program known as Prometheus in 2002 to develop nuclear power and propulsion systems for deep space probes like the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter, a flagship-class mission that NASA deferred indefinitely earlier this year once it became clear that the undertaking would cost tens of billions of dollars and not necessarily help NASA accomplish its goal of returning to the Moon and sending humans to Mars.

The operating plan sent to Congress would cut $171 million from the Prometheus budget, leaving the program with $260 million for the time being.

I can't seem to find a link to it now, but I came across an article earlier in the week (in Aerospace Daily, I thought) which stated explicitly that Prometheus was being redirected to surface power systems and nuclear thermal rockets (the example given was a nuclear thermal upper stage).

If so, that's the best space news I've heard in a long while.

Posted by T.L. James on May 21, 2005 08:52 PM