The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has signed a partnership agreement with Nasa’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to further research in to nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) that could expand the capabilities of space travel.

The partnership will help Nasa explore where and how NTP systems could be used most effectively.

The UAH said its research would help MSFC, which builds propulsion systems and hardware, in its mission analysis, propulsion modelling, digital engineering and advanced nuclear propulsion concepts.