NASA And DARPA Are Testing A Nuclear Engine For Flights to Mars
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), plans to test a nuclear rocket engine for flights to Mars by 2027. This was announced on Tuesday by the head of the department, Bill Nelson, speaking at a forum organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
NASA and DARPA will collaborate on the Demonstration Rocket for Flexible Circumlunar Operations, or DRACO. The non-refundable agreement, designed for the benefit of both agencies, defines roles, responsibilities and processes to accelerate development efforts.
As noted, the US military and NASA sought to develop this type of technology in the mid-20th century, but the program stalled. NASA’s research into nuclear thermal rocket engines began in 1959. A program in the 1960s called Nuclear Propulsion for Rocket Vehicles even sought to demonstrate the technology in space, but plans did not materialize due to funding constraints.
The use of a nuclear thermal rocket allows for shorter flight times, reducing the risk to astronauts. Reducing travel time is a key component of manned missions to Mars, as longer missions require more supplies and more reliable systems. Improving faster and more efficient transportation technologies will help NASA accomplish its mission from the Moon to Mars.
“Our goal is to build and demonstrate a successful nuclear rocket engine as early as 2027,” Nelson added.
