5-C4.10

session 5-C4.10

Title: Joint Session on Nuclear Power and Propulsion Systems, and Propellantless Propulsion
type: oral
Description: This session, organized jointly between the Space Power and the Space Propulsion Symposia, addresses all aspects related to nuclear power and propulsion systems for space applications. The session also addresses all types of propellantless propulsion including (but not limited to) solar sails, magnetic sails, laser propulsion, tethers, etc.
Date: 2026-10-09
Time: 13:45
Room: E6

IPC members

Co-Chair: Dr. Leopold Summerer, European Space Agency (ESA), Netherlands (Kingdom of the);
Co-Chair: Dr. Saroj Kumar, Propulsion Research Center, University of Alabama in Huntsville, United States;
Co-Chair: Mr. Markus Jaeger, The Exploration Company GmbH, Germany;
Rapporteur: Dr. Lahib Balika, Thales Alenia Space, United Kingdom;
Rapporteur: Ms. Lisa May, United States;

papers
Order	Time	Paper title	Mode	Presentation status	Speaker	Affiliation	Country
1	13:45	Why don't we have MWe-class Nuclear Electric Propulsion	10	confirmed	Dr. Francesco Bordi	The Aerospace Corporation	United States
2	13:55	Bimodal Ammonia Nuclear Thermal and Electric Rocket (BANTER): First Year Project Update	10	confirmed	Mr. Elia Puccinelli	University of Pisa	Italy
3	14:05	Dynamic Energy Management via Fuzzy Machine Learning for SNEP Architectures with MPD Propulsion in Mars Missions	10	confirmed	Mr. Haniel Castellano Guarachi	Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos	Peru
4	14:15	Innovative bimodal particle bed nuclear reactor design for space power and propulsion based on an iterative neutronic-thermal-hydraulic coupling approach	10		Mr. Stefano Mannucci	Università di Pisa (Unipi)	Italy
5	14:25	Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket Development: Progress Toward Engineering Viability	10	confirmed	Dr. Dale Thomas	University of Alabama in Huntsville	United States
6	14:35	Commercial Radioisotope Power Systems Applied in the Moon and Mars Frontiers	10	confirmed	Mr. A.C. Charania	Zeno Power Systems	United States
7	14:45	Evaluation of Hybrid Maneuvers for a Bimodal Ammonia-Fed Nuclear Rocket	10	confirmed	Mr. Stefano Giuntini	University of Pisa	Italy
8	14:55	Transient Analysis for the Start-up of a Particle Bed Nuclear Reactor for Space Propulsive Applications	10	confirmed	Mr. Elia Puccinelli	University of Pisa	Italy
9	15:05	Performance Analysis of a Grooved-Ring Nuclear Thermal Rocket Engine	10	confirmed	Dr. Wang Xu	China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology R&D Center	China
10	15:15	radioisotope thermoelectric generator design optimization for power production on the lunar surface	10	confirmed	Dr. Stylianos Kyrimis	German Aerospace Center (DLR)	Germany
11	15:25	Legal Pathways for Deploying Nuclear Small Modular Reactors on the Moon	10	confirmed	Mrs. Carmen Guintrand	Sciences Po Paris	France
12	15:35	Topology, Porosity, and Unit Cell Size Effects on Power Peaking and Maximum Fuel Temperature in Porous Lattice Media	10	confirmed	Mr. Ian Harris	The Ohio State University	United States

session 5-C4.10

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