Carbide-based fuel assembly for thermal propulsion applications

A fuel assembly, comprising:

• a fuel assembly outer structure formed of a ceramic matrix composite material;
• a first fuel element and a second fuel element contained within the fuel assembly outer structure;
• an insulation layer formed of a first refractory ceramic material, wherein the insulation layer is interposed between an inner surface of the fuel assembly outer structure and an outer envelope surface of the first fuel element, and wherein the insulation layer is spaced apart from the outer envelope surface of the first fuel element and extends parallel to the first fuel element from a first end surface of the first fuel element to a second end surface of the first fuel element;
• and
• a first support mesh located at the first end surface of the first fuel element and a second support mesh located at the second end surface of the first fuel element,
• wherein the second fuel element is separated from the first fuel element in a longitudinal direction by one of the first support mesh and the second support mesh,
• wherein each of the first support mesh and the second support mesh includes a first region having a plurality of openings, and
• wherein the plurality of openings are interconnected internally within the first region and form a flow path from a first side to a second side of the respective support mesh.