The proceedings document the most recent publications in a number of key areas of space technology, space nuclear power and propulsion systems and technology, solar system exploration technology, and advanced innovative propulsion concepts. The technical areas covered in these proceedings include the latest on the thermophysics in microgravity, space nuclear reactor power and propulsion systems technologies for the exploration of distant planets in the solar system, recent advances in static and dynamic energy conversion technologies including segmented thermoelectric, thermionic, alkali metals thermal to electric conversion, closed Brayton engines, and free piston Stirling engines for space power applications, high power electrical propulsion, advanced radioisotope power systems, human space exploration and colonization, advanced radioisotope power systems, and next generation commercial/civil space transportation systems technology.

The proceedings of the August 1996 National Heat Transfer Conference held in Houston, Texas consist of 50 contributions divided into nine topic areas: interfacial phenomena and thermophysics in microgravity; heat transfer issues in chemical reactor design and operation; instrumentation for particle