Nasa and Pentagon developing nuclear-powered rocket for Mars voyage
- Nuclear thermal propulsion technology generates extremely hot temperatures which are then fed into a fuel
- It could allow astronauts to travel to and from deep space much faster, potentially enabling missions to Mars
Nasa is partnering with a Pentagon research agency to develop a nuclear-powered rocket engine in preparation for sending astronauts to Mars.
Nasa administrator Bill Nelson said on Tuesday that the US space agency will team up with the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to “develop and demonstrate advanced nuclear thermal propulsion technology as soon as 2027”.
“With the help of this new technology, astronauts could journey to and from deep space faster than ever – a major capability to prepare for crewed missions to Mars,” Nelson said in a statement.
DARPA is the Pentagon’s research and development arm and has played a role in many of the notable innovations of the 20th century including the internet.
Nasa said nuclear thermal rockets can be three or more times more efficient than conventional chemical propulsion and would reduce transit time, essential for an eventual mission to Mars.
In a nuclear thermal engine, a fission reactor is used to generate extremely high temperatures.
Heat from the reactor is transferred to liquid propellant which is then converted into gas, which expands through a nozzle and provides thrust.