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The Executive Order 13972 focuses on promoting the use of nuclear energy, particularly through the adoption of small modular reactors, for national defense and space exploration. The order outlines policies to strengthen the nuclear energy industry and emphasizes its importance for national security, energy security, and economic prosperity. It mandates the Secretary of Defense to demonstrate the use of micro-reactors in military installations and the NASA Administrator to plan for the implementation of nuclear power systems in future space missions. Additionally, it highlights the need for a secure domestic nuclear fuel supply chain and calls for the development of a technology roadmap to support these initiatives.

NASA has announced Phase 1 of the Deep Space Food Challenge, a competition aimed at developing innovative food production technologies for long-duration space missions. With a total prize of $500,000, NASA seeks to encourage the creation of systems that can provide nutritious and enjoyable food for astronauts on missions like those to the Moon, and potentially to Mars, with limited resupply from Earth. The challenge hopes to inspire solutions that can also address food production issues on Earth, especially in urban and remote environments. Up to 20 top U.S. teams may each receive a $25,000 prize and the chance to compete in a possible Phase 2.