Atomic Space A history and analysis of U.S. policy for the development of nuclear space propulsion and power technologies

Since 1955, the United States has created and later shuttered five major programs to develop nuclear propulsion and reactor power systems for use in space, expending billions of dollars over multiple years but without fielding an operational capability. This thesis examines this history to identify the factors that led American policymakers to embrace these nuclear projects only to end them after significant technical progress had been made.

The core finding of this thesis is that development of space-based nuclear technologies becomes prominent on the government’s policy agenda when tied directly to solving a vital and time-critical problem, particularly if related to national security. As a problem fades in relative importance or is solved by other means, the policy imperative to develop nuclear space systems is diminished.

Additional findings are that a supportive political environment is essential to initiating and sustaining a nuclear space program, and that high costs, complexity, and long development timelines lead to political friction that over time weakens policy support. Further, influential government officials who promote a nuclear program can play a highly significant role in securing the resources needed to sustain it, while unanticipated events bring unpredictability into the policymaking mix.

The thesis centers on two case studies of large-scale programs to develop nuclear rocket propulsion technologies. This qualitative research examined archival and opensource material, supplemented by interviews, to build detailed histories of these programs, and used Kingdon’s Multiple Streams theory as the analytical framework to assess the key factors that guided policy decisions for these technology development efforts.

This thesis contributes new knowledge to the space policy literature by providing original histories of two seminal nuclear technology programs, by conducting in-depth analyses of the factors that drove related policy decisions, and through the thorough use of Multiple Streams theory for detailed space policy analyses.