Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) is a technology company that was focused on developing and commercializing advanced nuclear reactors, including Micro Modular Reactors (MMR) and Fully Ceramic Micro-encapsulated (FCM) nuclear fuel for both terrestrial and space applications. Notably, USNC had been working with NASA and the Department of Defense on nuclear thermal propulsion systems and radioisotope power. However, in late 2024, USNC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is being acquired by NANO Nuclear Energy, with the acquisition completed in January 2025.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
NASA has been working on nuclear thermal propulsion technologies through July 2021 awards made in cooperation with the Department of Energy to BWX Technologies, General Atomics, and Ultra Safe Nuclear Technologies.
The July 2021 NASA–DOE contracts to BWX Technologies, General Atomics, and Ultra Safe Nuclear Technologies were valued at $5,000,000 each for one year and covered NTP reactor design.
Christopher Morrison of Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation – Space in Seattle received a 2023 NIAC Phase I grant for 'EmberCore Flashlight: Long Distance Lunar Characterization with Intense Passive X- and Gamma ray Source'.
Ultra Safe Nuclear Technologies, working with Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation, Blue Origin, General Electric Hitachi Nuclear Energy, General Electric Research, Framatome, and Materion, received one of the NASA nuclear thermal propulsion concept study contracts.