Atomic Ambitions: GA-EMS Aims to Reignite Space Exploration's Nuclear Dream General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) is channeling six decades of nuclear expertise into a bold vision for future space travel. Their goal: to develop safe, powerful, and versatile space-nuclear systems that could propel humanity deeper into the cosmos. At the heart of GA-EMS's aspirations is their involvement in DARPA's Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program. The company is working to design a next-generation Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) reactor and engine, with plans to test critical components under extreme conditions. NTP technology, first conceptualized in the 1960s, may be on the cusp of a revolutionary revival. If successful, these engines could harness the immense power of nuclear fission to offer a quantum leap in efficiency. DARPA projects they might provide thrust-to-weight ratios thousands of times greater than electric propulsion, while potentially doubli...