*Nuclear Thermal Propulsion DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.103895*

(INL). Eight specimen CERMET fuels, each with seven coolant holes, were tested under pulsed reactor conditions. Some fuel failure was observed in a few of the experiments [20, 26, 27].

With the success of the missions to the moon and the space race won after putting a man on the moon, the U.S. changed priorities for space exploration. Along with the cancelation of the Apollo missions, the NERVA program was terminated in 1972. Nevertheless, these programs provided a wealth of experience and knowledge; this work has been recently resurrected. Although the basics of rocket science have not changed since the 1970s, our understanding of materials performance and the development of new fabrication processes have advanced.
