The Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA, will host a July 22 presentation examining the role of nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) in future human missions to Mars, featuring longtime space propulsion expert Dr. Roger Myers. Titled Nuclear Electric Propulsion: The Next Great Journey to Mars, the program will begin at 7 p.m. and will explore how NEP technology could significantly reduce travel times to Mars compared with conventional chemical rocket systems. A VIP meet-and-greet with Myers is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. and includes reserved seating for the presentation.
During the presentation, Myers will discuss the engineering challenges associated with crewed missions to Mars and examine the major components of nuclear electric propulsion systems, including nuclear reactors, radiation shielding, electric propulsion units, power conversion equipment, and thermal management systems. He will also discuss NASA’s planned Space Reactor 1 (SR-1) Freedom mission, currently targeted for launch in 2028. General admission tickets for the presentation are $20, while The Museum of Flight members receive discounted admission at $15. A $10 VIP meet-and-greet option is also available and includes access to reserved seating. A valid photo ID is required for guests purchasing alcoholic beverages during the reception. Get your tickets HERE.
Myers has spent more than four decades working in space propulsion, transportation, and power systems. His career includes service at NASA’s Glenn Research Center and as Executive Director of Advanced In-Space Programs at Aerojet Rocketdyne. Today, he advises organizations on space mission design, propulsion technologies, flight systems, program management, and workforce development. Throughout his career, Myers has contributed to more than 100 commercial, civil, and defense space missions, including NASA’s Mars landing programs, the MESSENGER mission to Mercury, and the New Horizons mission to Pluto. He has also led numerous research and development programs involving chemical, electric, and nuclear propulsion technologies and has authored more than 100 technical publications. Among them is Weighing the Future: Strategic Options for U.S. Space Nuclear Leadership, a report that has influenced NASA’s current space nuclear initiatives.
In addition to serving as a trustee of The Museum of Flight, Myers is a member of the University of Washington Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics External Advisory Board. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2022 and is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Myers earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan in 1984 and a doctorate from Princeton University in 1989. For additional information, tickets for the event, and to support The Museum of Flight, click on this link: www.museumofflight.org/.
