NASA plans nuclear-powered spacecraft to Mars by 2028 and lunar reactor by 2030
By
Art Cotterell
Summary
NASA is advancing nuclear-powered space exploration with two major initiatives: the Space Reactor-1 Freedom mission (a nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft targeting a December 2028 launch to Mars) and a small lunar nuclear reactor planned for deployment by 2030 under the Artemis program. The White House has also established a National Initiative for nuclear space applications. The article discusses how these nuclear technologies differ from Earth-based reactors and reflects on lessons from past nuclear programs.
Source
bskyNASA plans nuclear-powered spacecraft to Mars by 2028 and lunar reactor by 2030theconversation.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledThe Space Reactor-1 Freedom mission is scheduled for launch by December 2028 to explore Mars, with NASA heralding it as 'the first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft'.
NASA also has plans to deploy a small nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030 for its Artemis program, though any reactor on the lunar surface would look nothing like the large nuclear power plants found on Earth.
Any talk of nuclear futures in space obliges us to learn from nuclear pasts.
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