Don Palac

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About

Don Palac is a leading figure in space nuclear power systems, with his work centering on the development of compact fission reactors for deep-space exploration. As a key contributor to NASA’s Kilopower project, he helped pioneer a game-changing approach to generating reliable, scalable power for missions beyond solar reach. His most-cited paper, "Nuclear Systems Kilopower Overview" (2016, 10 citations), outlines the project’s ambitious goal of achieving Technology Readiness Level 5—demonstrating subsystem-level viability in a relevant environment. This work laid the foundation for the Kilopower reactor’s successful ground tests, which proved that a small, uranium-fueled system could provide up to 10 kilowatts of electrical power for decades, enabling robotic and crewed missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Palac’s contributions are vital to advancing in-space nuclear propulsion and surface power, positioning him as a key architect of humanity’s future in the solar system.