Nuclear Propulsion for Space Missions: Decision Trade-offs and Governance Conditions

Time: 15:00-16:10
Room: G3, Nest Convention Center
Format: Workshop

Under what conditions could nuclear propulsion be considered for future space missions? This interactive workshop explores mission-level trade-offs, governance constraints, and legitimacy challenges surrounding nuclear propulsion, beyond technical feasibility. Bringing together propulsion experts, system architects, and institutional stakeholders, the session offers a structured space to discuss how such high-impact decisions are assessed, authorised, and communicated within today’s space ecosystem.

Organizer

Paola PIERRETTORI

Consultant, Government Space Policy & Security, Novaspace

Italy

Facilitators

Jamila MANSOURI

Head, Propulsion, Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Engineering Divisio, European Space Agency (ESA)

France

Angelo PASINI

Associate Professor, University of Pisa

Italy

Dale THOMAS

Professor and Eminent Scholar of Systems Engineering in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, University of Alabama in Huntsville

United States

Mauro AUGELLI

Head, Systems Engineering, UK Space Agency

United Kingdom

Paola PIERRETTORI

Consultant, Government Space Policy & Security, Novaspace

Italy

Elia PUCCINELLI

Post-doc Researcher, University of Pisa

Italy

Candice MASUCCI-TEMPLIER

Manager, Government Practice, Novaspace

France