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NASA Develops Nuclear-Powered Rocket to Reach Mars
NASA is committed to getting humanity all the way to the Red Planet, and it thinks the best way to do that is a nuclear-powered rocket.
The Need for a Nuclear-Powered Rocket
Roving around the Martian surface just isn’t good enough; we’ve got to have some face time with the little red guy. NASA announced it would work with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency back in January to develop a nuclear propulsion rocket travel three times faster than traditional liquid fuel rockets. This will cut travel time to the Red Planet from eight months to just two and a half, exposing astronauts to much less risk and cosmic radiation.
How NASA Plans to Use Nuclear Power
The program has been dubbed DRACO, short for Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations. The system uses high heat from a fission reactor to turn liquid propellant into a gas, which is then funneled through a nozzle to power the spacecraft. This type of propulsion can create more thrust and is at least three times as efficient as chemical rockets, according to NASA. That means needing to carry less fuel onboard, which frees up room to haul more equipment, science experiments or other cargo to the Martian surface.
“It can completely change the game of how people think about what is possible in space — what you can carry, how quickly you can get there,” DARPA Director Stefanie Tompkins said. “You have much more flexibility in getting where you want, when you want.”
The Safety of Nuclear Power in Space
The scientist goes on to call the technology safe because it would use low-enriched uranium rather than highly enriched, weapons grade uranium. Using this form of rocket would give astronauts more time to focus on boots-on-the-Martian-soil type work, and allow them to bring more stuff with them since they wouldn’t have to haul around a ton of fuel.
Alternatives to Nuclear Power
The European Space Agency is also betting on nuclear to power its ambitions for deep space research. Nuclear power isn’t our only option for traveling deeper into the solar system; NASA is also fooling around with a rotating detonation rocket engine or RDRE.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the nuclear-powered rocket?
The nuclear-powered rocket is being developed to cut travel time to Mars from eight months to just two and a half, exposing astronauts to much less risk and cosmic radiation. It would also give them more time to focus on boots-on-the-Martian-soil type work and allow astronauts to bring more stuff with them since they wouldn’t have to haul around a ton of fuel.
How does the rocket work?
The system uses high heat from a fission reactor to turn liquid propellant into a gas, which is then funneled through a nozzle to power the spacecraft. This type of propulsion can create more thrust and is at least three times as efficient as chemical rockets, according to NASA.
Is nuclear power safe for space travel?
According to NASA, the technology is safe because it would use low-enriched uranium rather than highly enriched, weapons-grade uranium.
What are the other alternatives to nuclear power for deep space travel?
NASA is also exploring a rotating detonation rocket engine, or RDRE.
Conclusion
The development of a nuclear-powered rocket by NASA aims to revolutionize space travel and make it more efficient and safe for astronauts. It will cut travel time to Mars significantly, allowing more time for research and exploration. Although there are concerns about the use of nuclear power in space, NASA assures us that it is safe and effective.
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