To Make Mars Travel More Efficient, NASA Will Test Nuclear Rocket Engines After 50 Yrs

NASA will test a nuclear thermal rocket engine for the first time in 50 years. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are developing a nuclear thermal rocket engine that could potentially enable long-term space travel.

With all sights set on Mars, the space agency says that the first series of tests could take place as early as 2027, according to a statement on Tuesday.

NASA/DARPA

"DARPA and NASA have a long history of fruitful collaboration in advancing technologies for our respective goals, from the Saturn V rocket that took humans to the Moon for the first time to robotic servicing and refueling of satellites," DARPA director Dr. Stefanie Tompkins said in a statement. "The space domain is critical to modern commerce, scientific discovery, and national security," Tompkins added.

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¡ªkey steps for sending the first crewed mission to Mars. https://t.co/xhWJYNbRz2 pic.twitter.com/JUDN6nUGbj

¡ª NASA (@NASA) January 24, 2023

Why it took 50 years to appreciate nuclear engines

This isn't the first such tech is being developed by US agencies; they tried to do something similar in the 1950s but the programme was stalled. But the 2020s are a turbulent time for humanity and space agencies around the world want to set foot on Mars soon.

NASA

Also read: Watch NASA's SWOT Satellite Unfurl In Earth's Orbit Before Beginning Observations

NASA's Artemis mission sent an uncrewed test flight to the Moon in 2022 and eventually aims to put humans on Mars. This is where nuclear thermal engines could prove useful. Such engines rely on a nuclear reactor and through a process called atomic fission, spacecraft may be propelled to travel through space.

NASA

The space agency claims that this process could be three times more efficient than chemical propulsion currently used by rockets. With nuclear thermal engines, time travel could be cut and astronauts could be protected from space radiation on future missions.

Also read: NASA's Artemis I Mission Returns To Earth, Paving Way For Crewed Moon Missions

The agreement states that DARPA will design an experimental spacecraft and lead the overall programme while NASA will develop the new engine.

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