TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
NUCLEAR PROPULSION [5 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2016-08-03
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Nuclear Fission Reactors
- Underwater Navigation Equipment
- Submarines (Naval Forces)
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- nuclear naval propulsion reactor
1, record 1, English, nuclear%20naval%20propulsion%20reactor
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- naval propulsion reactor 2, record 1, English, naval%20propulsion%20reactor
correct
- propulsion reactor 3, record 1, English, propulsion%20reactor
correct
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Nuclear reactor configured for the propulsion of naval ships and submarines. 4, record 1, English, - nuclear%20naval%20propulsion%20reactor
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Réacteurs nucléaires de fission
- Appareils de navigation sous-marine
- Sous-marins (Forces navales)
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- réacteur de propulsion navale
1, record 1, French, r%C3%A9acteur%20de%20propulsion%20navale
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
- RPN 2, record 1, French, RPN
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- réacteur nucléaire de propulsion navale 3, record 1, French, r%C3%A9acteur%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20de%20propulsion%20navale
correct, masculine noun
- réacteur de propulsion 4, record 1, French, r%C3%A9acteur%20de%20propulsion
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Le hafnium a été utilisé comme absorbant neutronique dès la construction des premiers réacteurs. Sa faible disponibilité à l'époque a limité son usage aux réacteurs de propulsion navale (sous-marins) [...] 3, record 1, French, - r%C3%A9acteur%20de%20propulsion%20navale
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2012-04-11
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Missiles and Rockets
- Spacecraft
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- nuclear electric propulsion
1, record 2, English, nuclear%20electric%20propulsion
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
- NEP 1, record 2, English, NEP
correct
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- nuclear-electric propulsion 2, record 2, English, nuclear%2Delectric%20propulsion
correct
- NEP 2, record 2, English, NEP
correct
- NEP 2, record 2, English, NEP
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
In a nuclear electric propulsion system, heat from a nuclear reactor is converted to electrical energy either by direct thermoelectric or thermionic conversion. NEP provides higher power, thrust, and specific impulse than a SEP [solar electric propulsion] system, although the thrust still pales to insignificance compared to our chemical rockets. For a comparison specific impulse of chemical rockets is about 400secs, Deep Space 1 uses SEP and produces around 3300secs, NEP on the other hand could produce specific impulse as high as 13,000secs. 1, record 2, English, - nuclear%20electric%20propulsion
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Missiles et roquettes
- Engins spatiaux
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- propulsion nucléoélectrique
1, record 2, French, propulsion%20nucl%C3%A9o%C3%A9lectrique
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Mode de propulsion nucléaire dans lequel l'énergie produite sert à engendrer de l'énergie électrique qui accélère un agent propulsif. 2, record 2, French, - propulsion%20nucl%C3%A9o%C3%A9lectrique
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 PHR
Sonde martienne à propulsion nucléoélectrique. 3, record 2, French, - propulsion%20nucl%C3%A9o%C3%A9lectrique
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2010-10-01
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Launchers (Astronautics)
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- nuclear propulsion
1, record 3, English, nuclear%20propulsion
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A form of rocket propulsion which uses the heat from a nuclear reactor to vaporise a propellant (typically liquid hydrogen), the resultant gas being ejected from a nozzle to produce thrust in the same manner as a chemical propulsion system. 2, record 3, English, - nuclear%20propulsion
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Nuclear propulsion includes a wide variety of propulsion methods that use some form of nuclear reaction as their primary power source. 3, record 3, English, - nuclear%20propulsion
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Lanceurs (Astronautique)
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- propulsion nucléaire
1, record 3, French, propulsion%20nucl%C3%A9aire
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Mode de propulsion à réaction utilisant l'énergie produite par une réaction nucléaire. 2, record 3, French, - propulsion%20nucl%C3%A9aire
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
La propulsion nucléaire est la technique d'utilisation de l'énergie nucléaire pour obtenir une propulsion spatiale plus puissante ou plus efficace. 3, record 3, French, - propulsion%20nucl%C3%A9aire
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 2007-02-16
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Missiles and Rockets
- Spacecraft
- Launchers (Astronautics)
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- space nuclear thermal propulsion
1, record 4, English, space%20nuclear%20thermal%20propulsion
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
- SNTP 2, record 4, English, SNTP
correct
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Bimodal pellet bed reactor for space nuclear thermal propulsion and power. 3, record 4, English, - space%20nuclear%20thermal%20propulsion
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Missiles et roquettes
- Engins spatiaux
- Lanceurs (Astronautique)
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- propulsion spatiale thermo-nucléaire
1, record 4, French, propulsion%20spatiale%20thermo%2Dnucl%C3%A9aire
feminine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record 4, Key term(s)
- propulsion spatiale thermonucléaire
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - internal organization data 1990-08-24
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- CBRNE Weapons
- Atomic Physics
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- nuclear propulsion system
1, record 5, English, nuclear%20propulsion%20system
correct
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Armes CBRNE
- Physique atomique
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- système de propulsion nucléaire
1, record 5, French, syst%C3%A8me%20de%20propulsion%20nucl%C3%A9aire
correct, masculine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified:


