> America is also unlikely to learn how to build aerospace nuclear reactors in this century.

Why should it? It already knows. Since last century:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Pluto

In a place called 'Jackass Flats', of all things...(Giggle)

Edit: Or take the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NERVA mentioned here by credit_guy: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38136383

Same place, name is program :-)