This is official, authoritative, the organized and careful report of progress being made by the United States Air Force toward nuclear flight -- adapted from the introduction.

The payoff in nuclear propulsion --The USAF nuclear propulsion programs -- Manned aircraft nuclear propulsion program -- Nuclear missile, rocket, and auxiliary power program -- Power-reactor fundamentals -- Thrust and power production from nuclear energy -- Heat transfer and coolant systems -- Reactor materials -- The shield -- Direct-cycle nuclear propulsion -- Indirect-cycle nuclear propulsion -- Nuclear reactors for Ramjet propulsion -- Design of a nuclear plant -- Radioisotopic power sources -- Nuclear reactors as auxiliary power sources -- Testing radiation effects on aircraft systems -- Radiobiological aspects of aircraft -- Human factors of nuclear-powered aircraft -- Ground support for nuclear aircraft -- Public hazards from nuclear aircraft.