National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion
| Published date | 21 December 2020 |
| Citation | 85 FR 82873 |
| Record Number | 2020-28272 |
| Section | Presidential Documents |
| Court | Executive Office Of The President |
Presidential Documents
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Space Policy Directive–6 of December 16, 2020
National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion
Memorandum for the Vice President[,] the Secretary of State[,] the Sec-
retary of Defense[,] the Secretary of Commerce[,] the Secretary of
Transportation[,] the Secretary of Energy[,] the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget[,] the Assistant to the President for National Se-
curity Affairs[,] the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration[,] the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission[,
and] the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
Section 1. Policy. The ability to use space nuclear power and propulsion
(SNPP) systems safely, securely, and sustainably is vital to maintaining
and advancing United States dominance and strategic leadership in space.
SNPP systems include radioisotope power systems (RPSs) and fission reactors
used for power or propulsion in spacecraft, rovers, and other surface ele-
ments. SNPP systems can allow operation of such elements in environments
in which solar and chemical power are inadequate. They can produce more
power at lower mass and volume compared to other energy sources, thereby
enabling persistent presence and operations. SNPP systems also can shorten
transit times for crewed and robotic spacecraft, thereby reducing radiation
exposure in harsh space environments.
National Security Presidential Memorandum–20 (NSPM–20) of August 20,
2019 (Launch of Spacecraft Containing Space Nuclear Systems), updated
the process for launches of spacecraft containing space nuclear systems.
It established it as the policy of the United States to ‘‘develop and use
space nuclear systems when such systems safely enable or enhance space
exploration or operational capabilities.’’
Cooperation with commercial and international partners is critical to achiev-
ing America’s objectives for space exploration. Presidential Policy Directive
4 of June 28, 2010 (National Space Policy), as amended by the Presidential
Memorandum of December 11, 2017 (Reinvigorating America’s Human Space
Exploration Program), established it as the policy of the United States to
‘‘[l]ead an innovative and sustainable program of exploration with commer-
cial and international partners to enable human expansion across the solar
system and to bring back to Earth new knowledge and opportunities.’’
This memorandum establishes a national strategy to ensure the development
and use of SNPP systems when appropriate to enable and achieve the
scientific, exploration, national security, and commercial objectives of the
United States. In the context of this strategy only, the term ‘‘development’’
includes the full development process from design through testing and pro-
duction, and the term ‘‘use’’ includes launch, operation, and disposition.
This memorandum outlines high-level policy goals and a supporting roadmap
that will advance the ability of the United States to use SNPP systems
safely, securely, and sustainably. The execution of this strategy will be
subject to relevant budgetary and regulatory processes and to the availability
of appropriations.
Sec. 2. Goals. The United States will pursue goals for SNPP development
and use that are both mission-enabling and ambitious in their substance
and their timeline. These goals will enable a range of existing and future
space missions, with the aim of accelerating achievement of key milestones,
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including in-space demonstration and use of new SNPP capabilities. This
memorandum establishes the following such goals for the Nation:
(a) Develop uranium fuel processing capabilities that enable production
of fuel that is suitable to lunar and planetary surface and in-space power,
nuclear electric propulsion (NEP), and nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP)
applications, as needed. These capabilities should support the ability to
produce different uranium fuel forms to meet the nearest-term mission needs
and, to the extent feasible, should maximize commonality—meaning use
of the same or similar materials, processes, designs, or infrastructure—across
these fuel forms. To maximize private-sector engagement and cost savings,
these capabilities should be developed to enable a range of terrestrial as
well as space applications, including future commercial applications;
(b) Demonstrate a fission power system on the surface of the Moon that
is scalable to a power range of 40 kilowatt-electric (kWe) and higher to
support a sustained lunar presence and exploration of Mars. To the extent
feasible, this power system should align with mission needs for, and potential
future government and commercial applications of, in-space power, NEP,
and terrestrial nuclear power;
(c) Establish the technical foundations and capabilities—including through
identification and resolution of the key technical challenges—that will enable
options for NTP to meet future Department of Defense (DoD) and National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) mission requirements; and
(d) Develop advanced RPS capabilities that provide higher fuel efficiency,
higher specific energy, and longer operational lifetime than existing RPS
capabilities, thus enabling survivable surface elements to support robotic
and human exploration of the Moon and Mars and extending robotic explo-
ration of the solar system.
Sec. 3. Principles. The United States will adhere to principles of safety,
security, and sustainability in its development and use of SNPP systems,
in accordance with all applicable Federal laws and consistent with inter-
national obligations and commitments.
(a) Safety. All executive departments and agencies (agencies) involved
in the development and use of SNPP systems shall take appropriate measures
to ensure, within their respective roles and responsibilities, the safe develop-
ment, testing, launch, operation, and disposition of SNPP systems. For United
States Government SNPP programs, the sponsoring agency holds primary
responsibility for safety. For programs involving multiple agencies, the terms
of cooperation shall designate a lead agency with primary responsibility
for safety in each stage of development and use.
(i) Ground development. Activities associated with ground development,
including ground testing, of SNPP systems shall be conducted in accord-
ance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws and existing authorities
of regulatory agencies.
(ii) Launch. NSPM–20 established safety guidelines and safety analysis
and review processes for Federal Government launches of spacecraft con-
taining space nuclear systems, including SNPP systems, and for launches
for which the Department of Transportation has statutory authority to
license as commercial space launch activities (commercial launches). These
guidelines and processes address launch and any subsequent stages during
which accidents may result in radiological effects on the public or the
environment—for instance, in an unplanned reentry from Earth orbit or
during an Earth flyby. Launch activities shall be conducted in accordance
with these guidelines and processes.
(iii) Operation and disposition. The operation and disposition of SNPP
systems shall be planned and conducted in a manner that protect human
and environmental safety and national security assets. Fission reactor SNPP
systems may be operated on interplanetary missions, in sufficiently high
orbits, and in low-Earth orbits if they are stored in sufficiently high
orbits after the operational part of their mission. In this context, a suffi-
ciently high orbit is one in which the orbital lifetime of the spacecraft
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is long enough for the fission products to decay to a level of radioactivity
comparable to that of uranium–235 by the time it reenters the Earth’s
atmosphere, and the risks to existing and future space missions and of
collision with objects in space are minimized. Spacecraft operating fission
reactors in low-Earth orbits shall incorporate a highly reliable operational
system to ensure effective and controlled disposition of the reactor.
(b) Security. All agencies involved in the development and use of SNPP
systems shall take appropriate measures to protect nuclear and radiological
materials and sensitive information, consistent with sound nuclear non-
proliferation principles. For United States Government SNPP programs, the
sponsoring agency holds primary responsibility for security. For programs
involving multiple agencies, the terms of cooperation shall designate a lead
agency with primary responsibility for security in each stage of development
and use. The use of highly enriched uranium (HEU) in SNPP systems should
be limited to applications for which the mission would not be viable with
other nuclear fuels or non-nuclear power sources. Before selecting HEU
or, for fission reactor systems, any nuclear fuel other than low-enriched
uranium (LEU), for any given SNPP design or mission, the sponsoring agency
shall conduct a thorough technical review to assess the viability of alternative
nuclear fuels. The sponsoring agency shall provide to the respective staffs
of the National Security Council, the National Space Council, the Office
of Science and Technology Policy, and the Office of Management and Budget
a briefing that provides justification for why the use of HEU or other non-
LEU fuel is required, and any steps the agency has taken to address nuclear
safety, security, and proliferation-related risks. The Director of the Office
of Science and Technology Policy shall ensure, through the National Science
and Technology Council, that other relevant agencies are invited to partici-
pate in these briefings.
(c) Sustainability. All agencies involved in the development and use of
SNPP systems shall take appropriate measures to conduct these activities
in a manner that is suitable for the long-term sustainment of United States
space capabilities and leadership in SNPP.
(i) Coordination and Collaboration. To maximize efficiency and return
on taxpayer investment, the heads of relevant agencies shall seek and
pursue opportunities to coordinate among existing and future SNPP devel-
opment and use programs. Connecting current efforts with likely future
applications will help ensure that such programs can contribute to long-
term United States SNPP capabilities and leadership. Agencies also shall
seek opportunities to partner with the private sector, including academic
institutions, in order to facilitate contributions to United States SNPP
capabilities and leadership. To help identify opportunities for collabora-
tion, the heads of relevant agencies should conduct regular technical ex-
changes among SNPP programs, to the extent that such exchanges are
consistent with the principle of security and comply with applicable Fed-
eral, State, and local laws. Agencies shall coordinate with the Department
of State when seeking opportunities for international partnerships.
(ii) Commonality. The heads of relevant agencies shall seek to identify
and use opportunities for commonality among SNPP systems, and between
SNPP and terrestrial nuclear systems, whenever doing so could advance
program and policy objectives without unduly inhibiting innovation or
market development, or hampering system suitability to specific mission
applications. For example, opportunities for commonality may exist in
goals (e.g., demonstration timeline), reactor design, nuclear fuels (e.g.,
fuel type and form, and enrichment level), supplementary systems (e.g.,
power conversion, moderator, reflector, shielding, and system vessel),
methods (e.g., additive manufacturing of fuel or reactor elements), and
infrastructure (e.g., fuel supply, testing facilities, launch facilities, and
workforce).
(iii) Cost-effectiveness. The heads of relevant agencies should pursue SNPP
development and use solutions that are cost-effective while also consistent
with the principles of safety and security. For any program or system,
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the heads of such agencies should seek to identify the combination of
in-space and ground-based testing and certification that will best qualify
the system for a given mission while ensuring public safety.
Sec. 4. Roles and Responsibilities. (a) The Vice President, on behalf of
the President and acting through the National Space Council, shall coordinate
United States policy related to use of SNPP systems.
(b) The Secretary of State shall, under the direction of the President,
coordinate United States activities related to international obligations and
commitments and international cooperation involving SNPP.
(c) The Secretary of Defense shall conduct and support activities associated
with development and use of SNPP systems to enable and achieve United
States national security objectives. When appropriate, the Secretary of De-
fense shall facilitate private-sector engagement in DoD SNPP activities.
(d) The Secretary of Commerce shall promote responsible United States
commercial SNPP investment, innovation, and use, and shall, when con-
sistent with the authorities of the Secretary, ensure the publication of clear,
flexible, performance-based rules that are applicable to use of SNPP and
are easily navigated. Under the direction of the Secretary of Commerce,
the Department of Commerce (DOC) shall ascertain and communicate the
views of private-sector partners and potential private-sector partners to rel-
evant agency partners in order to facilitate public-private collaboration in
SNPP development and use.
(e) The Secretary of Transportation’s statutory authority includes licensing
commercial launches and reentries, including vehicles containing SNPP sys-
tems. Within this capacity, the Secretary of Transportation shall, when appro-
priate, facilitate private-sector engagement in the launch or reentry aspect
of SNPP development and use activities, in support of United States science,
exploration, national security, and commercial objectives. To help ensure
the launch safety of an SNPP payload, and consistent with 51 U.S.C. 50904,
a payload review may be conducted as part of a license application review
or may be requested by a payload owner or operator in advance of or
apart from a license application.
(f) The Secretary of Energy shall, in coordination with sponsoring agencies
and other agencies, as appropriate, support development and use of SNPP
systems to enable and achieve United States scientific, exploration, and
national security objectives. When appropriate, the Secretary of Energy shall
work with sponsoring agencies and DOC to facilitate United States private-
sector engagement in Department of Energy (DOE) SNPP activities. Under
the direction of the Secretary of Energy and consistent with the authorities
granted to DOE, including authorities under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954
(AEA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2011, et seq., DOE may authorize ground-
based SNPP development activities, including DOE activities conducted in
coordination with sponsoring agencies and private-sector entities. As directed
in NSPM–20, the Secretary of Energy shall maintain, on a full-cost recovery
basis, the capability and infrastructure to develop, furnish, and conduct
safety analyses for space nuclear systems for use in United States Government
space systems.
(g) The Administrator of NASA shall conduct and support activities associ-
ated with development and use of SNPP systems to enable and achieve
United States space science and exploration objectives. The Administrator
of NASA shall establish the performance requirements for SNPP capabilities
necessary to achieve those objectives. When appropriate, the Administrator
of NASA shall facilitate private-sector engagement in NASA SNPP activities,
and shall coordinate with the Secretary of Commerce and, as appropriate,
the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Energy, to help facilitate private-
sector SNPP activities.
(h) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has statutory authority
under the AEA for licensing and regulatory safety and security oversight
of commercial nuclear activities taking place within the United States. The
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NRC should, as appropriate and particularly in circumstances within NRC
authority where DOE regulatory authorities cannot be applied, enable private-
sector engagement in SNPP development and use activities in support of
United States science, exploration, national security, and commercial objec-
tives.
(i) The Director of the Office and Science and Technology Policy shall
coordinate United States policy related to research and development of
SNPP systems.
Sec. 5. Roadmap. The United States will pursue a coordinated roadmap
for federally-supported SNPP activities to achieve the goals and uphold
the principles established in this memorandum. This roadmap comprises
the following elements, which the relevant agencies should pursue consistent
with the following objective timeline, subject to relevant budgetary and
regulatory processes and to the availability of appropriations:
(a) By the mid-2020s, develop uranium fuel processing capabilities that
enable production of fuel that is suitable for lunar and planetary surface
and in-space power, NEP, and NTP applications, as needed.
(i) Identify relevant mission needs. DoD and NASA should provide to
DOE any mission needs (e.g., power density, environment, and timelines)
relevant to the identification of fuels suitable for planetary surface and
in-space power, NEP, and NTP applications.
(ii) Identify candidate fuel or fuels. DoD and NASA, in cooperation with
DOE and private-sector partners, as appropriate, should identify candidate
fuel or fuels to meet the identified mission requirements. This review
and assessment should account for current and expected United States
capabilities to produce and qualify for use candidate fuels, and for potential
commonality of fuels or fuel variants across multiple planetary surface
and in-space power, in-space propulsion, and terrestrial applications.
(iii) Qualify at least one candidate fuel. DoD and NASA, in cooperation
with DOE and private-sector partners, as appropriate, should qualify a
fuel or fuels for demonstrations of a planetary surface power reactor and
an in-space propulsion system. While seeking opportunities to use private-
sector-partner capabilities, agencies should ensure that the Federal Govern-
ment retains an ability for screening and qualification of candidate fuels.
(iv) Supply fuel for demonstrations. DOE, in cooperation with NASA
and DoD, and with private-sector partners, as appropriate, should identify
feedstock and uranium that can be made available for planetary surface
power and in-space propulsion demonstrations. DOE shall ensure that
any provision of nuclear material for SNPP will not disrupt enriched
uranium supplies for the United States nuclear weapons program and
the naval propulsion program, and that SNPP needs are included among
broader considerations of nuclear fuel supply provisioning and manage-
ment.
(b) By the mid- to late-2020s, demonstrate a fission power system on
the surface of the Moon that is scalable to a power range of 40 kWe
and higher to support sustained lunar presence and exploration of Mars.
(i) Initiate a surface power project. NASA should initiate a fission surface
power project for lunar surface demonstration by 2027, with scalability
to Mars exploration. NASA should consult with DoD and other agencies,
and with the private sector, as appropriate, when developing project re-
quirements.
(ii) Conduct technology and requirements assessment. NASA, in coordina-
tion with DoD and other agencies, and with private-sector partners, as
appropriate, should evaluate technology options for a surface power system
including reactor designs, power conversion, shielding, and thermal man-
agement. NASA should work with other agencies, and private-sector part-
ners, as appropriate, to evaluate opportunities for commonality among
other SNPP needs, including in-space power and terrestrial power needs,
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possible NEP technology needs, and reactor demonstrations planned by
NASA, other agencies, or the private sector.
(iii) Engage the private sector. DOE and NASA should determine a mecha-
nism or mechanisms for engaging with the private sector to meet NASA’s
SNPP surface power needs in an effective manner consistent with the
guiding principles set forth in this memorandum. In evaluating mecha-
nisms, DOE and NASA should consider the possibility of NASA issuing
a request for proposal for the development and construction of the surface
power reactor system or demonstration.
(iv) System development. NASA should work with DOE, and with other
agencies and private-sector partners, as appropriate, to develop the lunar
surface power demonstration project.
(v) Conduct demonstration mission. NASA, in coordination with other
agencies and with private-sector partners, as appropriate, should launch
and conduct the lunar surface power demonstration project.
(c) By the late-2020s, establish the technical foundations and capabilities—
including through identification and resolution of the key technical chal-
lenges—that will enable NTP options to meet future DoD and NASA mission
needs.
(i) Conduct requirements assessment. DoD and NASA, in cooperation with
DOE, and with other agencies and private-sector partners, as appropriate,
should assess the ability of NTP capabilities to enable and advance existing
and potential future DoD and NASA mission requirements.
(ii) Conduct technology assessment. DoD and NASA, in cooperation with
DOE, and with other agencies and private-sector partners, as appropriate,
should evaluate technology options and associated key technical challenges
for an NTP system, including reactor designs, power conversion, and
thermal management. DoD and NASA should work with their partners
to evaluate and use opportunities for commonality with other SNPP needs,
terrestrial power needs, and reactor demonstration projects planned by
agencies and the private sector.
(iii) Technology development. DoD, in coordination with DOE and other
agencies, and with private-sector partners, as appropriate, should develop
reactor and propulsion system technologies that will resolve the key tech-
nical challenges in areas such as reactor design and production, propulsion
system and spacecraft design, and SNPP system integration.
(d) By 2030, develop advanced RPS capabilities that provide higher fuel
efficiency, higher specific energy, and longer operational lifetime than exist-
ing RPS capabilities, thus enabling survivable surface elements to support
robotic and human exploration of the Moon and Mars and extending robotic
exploration of the solar system.
(i) Maintain RPS capability. Mission sponsoring agencies should assess
their needs for radioisotope heat source material to meet emerging mission
requirements, and should work with DOE to jointly identify the means
to produce or acquire the necessary material on a timeline that meets
mission requirements.
(ii) Engage the private sector. NASA, in coordination with DOE and DOC,
should conduct an assessment of opportunities for engaging the private
sector to meet RPS needs in an effective manner consistent with the
guiding principles established in this memorandum.
(iii) Conduct technology and requirements assessment. NASA, in coordina-
tion with DOE and DoD, and with other agencies and private-sector part-
ners, as appropriate, should assess requirements for next-generation RPS
systems and evaluate technology options for meeting those requirements.
(iv) System development. DOE, in coordination with NASA and DoD,
and with other agencies and private-sector partners, as appropriate, should
develop one or more next-generation RPS system or systems to meet
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the goals of higher fuel efficiency, higher specific energy, and longer
operational lifetime for the required range of power.
Sec. 6. Implementation. The Vice President, through the National Space
Council, shall coordinate implementation of this memorandum.
Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be con-
strued to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency,
or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable
law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right
or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by
any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities,
its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The Secretary of Energy is authorized and directed to publish this
memorandum in the Federal Register.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, December 16, 2020
[FR Doc. 2020–28272
Filed 12–18–20; 8:45 am]
Billing code 6450–01–P
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