NASA to test nuclear-powered spacecraft by 2027 | ABS-CBN
ADVERTISEMENT

Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!
NASA to test nuclear-powered spacecraft by 2027
NASA to test nuclear-powered spacecraft by 2027
Deutsche Welle
Published Jan 26, 2023 10:47 AM PHT

NASA will partner with the US military's research and development agency, DARPA, to develop nuclear-powered rockets that could fly astronauts to Mars.
NASA will partner with the US military's research and development agency, DARPA, to develop nuclear-powered rockets that could fly astronauts to Mars.
NASA says it could allow spacecraft to travel faster, reduce transit time, and have other benefits such as increased payloads on missions.
NASA says it could allow spacecraft to travel faster, reduce transit time, and have other benefits such as increased payloads on missions.
Administrator Bill Nelson said Tuesday that the US space agency could "develop and demonstrate advanced nuclear thermal propulsion technology as soon as 2027."
Administrator Bill Nelson said Tuesday that the US space agency could "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.
"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.
ADVERTISEMENT
We’re partnering with @DARPA to demonstrate a nuclear thermal rocket engine in space. This new engine would allow us to do more science and reach destinations faster—key steps for sending the first crewed mission to Mars. https://t.co/xhWJYNbRz2 pic.twitter.com/JUDN6nUGbj
— NASA (@NASA) January 24, 2023
We’re partnering with @DARPA to demonstrate a nuclear thermal rocket engine in space. This new engine would allow us to do more science and reach destinations faster—key steps for sending the first crewed mission to Mars. https://t.co/xhWJYNbRz2 pic.twitter.com/JUDN6nUGbj
— NASA (@NASA) January 24, 2023
A trip to Mars from Earth using the technology could take roughly four months instead of some nine months with a conventional, chemically powered engine, engineers say.
A trip to Mars from Earth using the technology could take roughly four months instead of some nine months with a conventional, chemically powered engine, engineers say.
Nuclear safety concerns
NASA abandoned nuclear thermal propulsion technology about 50 years ago due to a lack of funding and a shift in priorities toward developing chemical rocket engines for the Apollo program.
NASA abandoned nuclear thermal propulsion technology about 50 years ago due to a lack of funding and a shift in priorities toward developing chemical rocket engines for the Apollo program.
There were also safety concerns.
There were also safety concerns.
DARPA now says it uses high-assay low-enriched uranium instead of highly-enriched uranium.
DARPA now says it uses high-assay low-enriched uranium instead of highly-enriched uranium.
"As an added safety precaution, DARPA plans to engineer the system so that the DRACO engine's fission reaction will turn on only once it reaches space," it said in a statement.
"As an added safety precaution, DARPA plans to engineer the system so that the DRACO engine's fission reaction will turn on only once it reaches space," it said in a statement.
Testing the nuclear thermal rocket engine
NASA successfully tested its new-era Artemis spacecraft last year, the first step toward putting humans back on the moon and then Mars.
NASA successfully tested its new-era Artemis spacecraft last year, the first step toward putting humans back on the moon and then Mars.
The nuclear thermal rocket engine would, however, first be tested on DARPA's experimental spacecraft. The US Space Force plans to provide the launch for the demonstration mission.
The nuclear thermal rocket engine would, however, first be tested on DARPA's experimental spacecraft. The US Space Force plans to provide the launch for the demonstration mission.
Tabitha Dodson of DARPA said, "We will conduct several experiments with the reactor at various power levels while in space, sending results back to operators on Earth, before executing the full-power rocket engine test remotely,"
Tabitha Dodson of DARPA said, "We will conduct several experiments with the reactor at various power levels while in space, sending results back to operators on Earth, before executing the full-power rocket engine test remotely,"
Meanwhile, NASA would continue its Artemis program, sending a manned mission to fly around the moon sometime this year before landing "the first woman and next man on the moon by 2024."
Meanwhile, NASA would continue its Artemis program, sending a manned mission to fly around the moon sometime this year before landing "the first woman and next man on the moon by 2024."
NASA believes the agency could be ready to send humans to Mars by the late 2030s.
NASA believes the agency could be ready to send humans to Mars by the late 2030s.
lo/ar (AFP, Reuters)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT