The Department of Energy has an accomplished history in these efforts – of reaching to, and beyond the horizon...in many ways, DOE actually stands for the Department of Exploration.
Energy for Space Strategy
Department of Energy's Strategy to Advance American Space Leadership (FY 2021–FY 2031)
Through this Energy for Space strategy, DOE will build on its support to U.S national space policies and programs, and contribute to advancing U.S. leadership in space exploration, security, and commerce via a more strategic approach to DOE’s work with the space community. This strategy also demonstrates the connections between DOE’s spacerelated contributions and DOE’s pursuit of its own core missions in science, energy, security, and the environment.
Virtual Roundtable Discussion
DOE held a virtual roundtable Department of Exploration! Because You Can’t Get to Space without the U.S. Department of Energy on September 10th, 2020.
This event highlighted how DOE cooperates with NASA and the National Space Council to support the President’s Space Policy and to understand how cutting-edge DOE and National Labs research is an essential part of space travel and exploration.
Listen to a recording of the event here.
Keynote speakers:
- Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette
- DOE Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar
Award-winning science writer and space reporter, Alan Boyle from GeekWire led a roundtable discussion with space experts:
- Tracey Bishop, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Infrastructure Programs, DOE Office of Nuclear Energy
- Dr. Kevin Greenaugh, Assistant Deputy Administrator for Strategic Partnership Programs, NNSA
- Dr. Ralph McNutt, Chief Scientist, Space Department, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
- Dr. Ben Reinke, Executive Director, DOE Office of Strategic Planning and Policy
- Eric Stallmer, President, Commercial Spaceflight Federation
- Former Congressman Bob Walker, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, moonWalker Associates
Podcasts
Direct Current is DOE's free podcast, which recently aired two episodes about DOE technology onboard the Mars Perseverance Rover. Check out the Direct Current podcasts below.
Department of Exploration Articles
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America is on the verge of a new era of space exploration. -
America’s pioneering spirit will propel us to new heights of Mars and beyond and DOE's national labs will continue to play a crucial part! -
Secretary Brouillette spoke about our work with the Council in powering space exploration and development and role as the "Department of Exploration."
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The U.S. Department of Energy successfully built, tested and delivered an MMRTG to power NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. -
Explore the history of nuclear power systems in U.S. space exploration -- from early satellites to the moon, Mars and beyond. -
Capturing solar power in space for use as energy on Earth seems farfetched. But recent developments could make this a reality in coming years. -
Scientists are developing machine learning techniques now to tackle the staggering amount of data that the LSST Camera will produce in the future. -
A farewell tribute to NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which was powered by plutonium from the Department of Energy. -
NNSA and NASA joined forces to develop a power source able to support deep space travel and outlast existing fuel sources. -
50 years after Apollo 11 made history, NASA is getting ready to send astronauts back to the Moon, then on to Mars. We're going to need a power supply that can keep humans alive in space for years at a time. Could a miniature nuclear reactor be the answer? -
Understanding how polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons form can help scientists better understand the origin and evolution of carbon in our galaxy. -
Supercomputer use offers insights into how to best describe the nature of our universe. -
A new 3D printing process is allowing researchers to write using carbon fiber-containing inks.
America is on the verge of a new era of space exploration, and America’s leadership in the space domain will be due to its courage to go and its conviction to stay. DOE, by many measures the “Department of Exploration,” is proud to be playing an essential part in rising to these challenges.