DRACO Nuclear Thermal Rocket Engine Program
Sector: Aerospace & Defense • Location: United States
Source: The Space Review
DRACO is a nuclear-thermal rocket engine project announced in early 2023 by NASA and DARPA to develop and demonstrate a nuclear-powered spacecraft. Lockheed Martin was awarded the contract in July 2023. The program was canceled by DARPA in July 2025 due to decreasing launch costs and infrastructure barriers.
- Status
- Closed
- Sector
- Aerospace & Defense, Geothermal, Nuclear, Power Generation (CCGT)
- Location
- United States of America
- Updated
- 22 Jul 2026
- Source
- The Space Review
ConstructChat
Ask ConstructChat about DRACO Nuclear Thermal Rocket Engine Program
Pick a question to edit it, or write your own.
First answer free · no account
Project Information FAQ
Project Information
Participants
| Not available for this record. |
Status
Original status | cancelled |
Taiyo status | Closed |
Taiyo last update | 2026-07-22 |
Contact
| Not available for this record. |
Description
Description | DRACO is a nuclear-thermal rocket engine project announced in early 2023 by NASA and DARPA to develop and demonstrate a nuclear-powered spacecraft. Lockheed Martin was awarded the contract in July 2023. The program was canceled by DARPA in July 2025 due to decreasing launch costs and infrastructure barriers. |
Original sector | Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion |
Location
Country | United States of America (USA) |
Source
Source | The Space Review |
URL |
More Details
Record type | Project |
Sector | Aerospace & Defense, Geothermal, Nuclear, Power Generation (CCGT) |
Article published date | 2026-07-16 |
Research
Free account
View all details
You are reading the public part. A free account opens the rest:
- Every detail on this project
- News and media coverage
- Technical research
Free account · no card · lands you back on this project