Space Nuclear Conference 2007 (SNC '07) will be the second topical meeting organized by the Aerospace Nuclear Science and Technology (ANST) technical group. NASA funding has been established to develop capabilities for unmanned and manned missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Strategies implementing nuclear based power and propulsion technology, as well as radiation shielding protection, will be an integral part of successful missions of these types.
The purpose of the meeting is to bring together and provide a communications network and forum for information exchange for the wide cross section of research and management personnel from government, industry, academia, and the national laboratory system that are involved in the initiative. To this end, the meeting will address topics ranging from overviews of current programs and plans to detailed issues related to space travel such as nuclear-based power and propulsion systems designs, materials, testing, safety, space environmental effects and nuclear power system radiation shielding for humans and electronic components, and human factor strategies for the safe and reliable operation of nuclear power and propulsion plants.