Getting to Mars typically takes more than half a year, but that time could be shortened by NASA’s upcoming nuclear-powered rocket project.
It’s been a big month for the physics lovers out there, with Oppenheimer making its debut in cinema and NASA announcing plans to test the launch of a nuclear rocket in space.
On Wednesday, the team announced that it would be collaborating with the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to create a nuclear thermal rocket engine. The main goal is to shorten the amount of time it takes to get to Mars and beyond.
The ball on this project has already started rolling.
Lockheed Martin, an aerospace and military defence company, has been selected to design, build, and trial a nuclear propulsion system. It may be the rocket that makes manned missions to Mars and other planets more feasible, thanks to its rapid speed.
The new nuclear program is named DRACO, short for the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations. It will cost a massive $499 million USD and – if successful – DRACO would become the first nuclear-powered rocket to fly into space.
Around once every 26 months, Mars and Earth pass each other more closely, allowing for a shorter journey between the two.
Despite this handy window, the average duration of the 140-million-mile trip sits at around seven to nine months. This length of travel is still considered too long for astronauts to withstand the harsh environment of space.
If powered by nuclear fission, the spacecraft could continue accelerating during the first half of the mission. It would then begin slowing down again, allowing for the duration of the journey to be slashed.
Current rocket engines, which are powered by the combustion of fuel such as hydrogen or methane with oxygen, are not capable of speeding up after their initial launches.
They also do not have enough room to carry enough propellant to create the propulsion that a nuclear engine would. Nuclear reactions, which generate energy from the split of uranium atoms, are far more efficient.
They also anticipate that this new technology may also be used to enable rapid manoeuvres of military satellites, helping to generate a ‘lunar economy’.
Are nuclear-powered rockets a new idea?
Not quite. During the 50’s and 60’s 1950s, NASA worked with the Air Force and the Advanced Research Projects Agency on Project Orion.
Together, they wondered if they could use the explosions of atomic bombs to accelerate space travel. They built and tested a series of 23 reactors, but none of them were ever launched into space.
A key difference between these previous models and DRACO is that earlier prototypes used weapons-grade uranium for its reactors, while DRACO will use a less-enriched form of uranium.
Project Orion was eventually abandoned due to the Partial Test Ban Treaty which banned nuclear explosions in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater. There were also worries about nuclear fallout, the residual radioactive material propelled into the upper atmosphere during a nuclear explosion.
For those worried about how DRACO’s nuclear explosion could affect us down here on Earth, the team at NASA say that the reactor would only be turned on once the rocket exited Earth’s atmosphere in order to avoid any potential tragedies.
Pam Melroy, NASA’s deputy administrator said, ‘This demonstration will be a crucial step in meeting our Moon to Mars objectives for crew transportation into deep space.’
We’ll get our first look at project DRACO through a flight test of the nuclear-thermal engine. A launch is currently scheduled for late 2026 or early 2027.
Deputy Editor & Content Partnership ManagerLondon, UK
I’m Jessica (She/Her). I’m the Deputy Editor & Content Partnership Manager at Thred. Originally from the island of Bermuda, I specialise in writing about ocean health and marine conservation, but you can also find me delving into pop culture, health and wellness, plus sustainability in the beauty and fashion industries. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
The prosecution of e-bike riders for speeding is symptomatic of a wider problem of wealth inequality and a lack of worker’s rights.
If you’ve been anywhere near a city in the last decade, undoubtedly you’ll have seen them. In Newcastle they’re often locked up or propped up on their owner on Northumberland Road, just off of Northumberland Street.
Their riders tend to congregate within the vicinity of fast food restaurants,...
Have Uber overlooked the safety of customers and drivers in order to make more money from earnings they’re already cutting by half?
Chances are, if you work late, go out late, or, like me, have a tendency to be late, you’ve probably used Uber at some point or another.
Launched in San Francisco in 2009, Uber has become a regular fixture in many of our lives. It’s a quicker way to...
US President Trump has tightened immigration laws across the country, increasing ICE raids and giving agents free reign to arrest and detain anyone they deem ‘a threat’. Under his policies, immigrant communities face imminent risks of deportation, familial separation, and forced detention in inhumane facilities.
Since the start of Trump’s second term on January 20, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, have arrested over 66,000 undocumented immigrants...
The European Union faces growing backlash for its role in refugee rights violations, as critics argue that its strict asylum policies and border enforcement contribute to the suffering of those seeking safety.
Libya currently remains deeply divided and unstable amid ongoing political deadlock and militia violence.
In 2021, the indefinite postponement of national elections led to clashes between the UN-recognized Government of National Unity and the Government of National Stability, backed...
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
0 Comments
