Bhavya Lal

Bhavya Lal, former acting Chief Technologist at NASA and a renowned expert in space policy, discusses the pivotal role of nuclear power in advancing space exploration. She explores historical projects like Orion and NERVA, highlighting the stagnation of nuclear technology due to cultural fears and funding issues. Lal emphasizes the energy density of nuclear power as essential for long missions, particularly beyond Mars, and stresses the geopolitical urgency for the U.S. to prioritize nuclear capabilities in space amid rising competition from other nations.