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NASA Aims for Mars in 2.5 Years with Nuclear Reactor
4 Jun
Summary
- NASA plans a Mars mission using nuclear electric propulsion.
- The mission will repurpose existing hardware to speed development.
- Helicopters similar to Ingenuity will deploy on Mars.
NASA is accelerating the development of its Space Reactor 1 (SR-1) Freedom mission, targeting a Mars launch by the end of 2028. This pioneering mission will demonstrate nuclear electric propulsion, employing a nuclear reactor to power electric thrusters for transit to the Red Planet.
Officials are streamlining management approaches to expedite the process while adhering to NASA's project requirements. This rapid timeline is facilitated by repurposing existing technology, such as the Power and Propulsion Element developed for the lunar Gateway, and leveraging designs for research reactors from the Department of Energy.
The SR-1 Freedom mission will carry SkyFall, a spacecraft designed to deploy three helicopters on Mars. These rotorcraft will be based on the design of the Ingenuity helicopter, which accompanied the Perseverance rover. NASA aims to minimize new development by utilizing available components and designs.
The agency has not yet disclosed a specific cost estimate for the SR-1 Freedom mission. Funding is expected to come from the fiscal year 2027 budget request and previous allocations for the Gateway program. Despite an ambitious schedule, NASA is committed to meeting the challenge.
