The Guardian Weekly

Nasa plans nuclear rockets to speed up Mars journey time

Nasa unveiled plans to test nuclear-powered rockets that would fly astronauts to Mars in ultra-fast time. The agency has partnered with the US government’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) to demonstrate a nuclear thermal rocket engine in space as soon as 2027. An additional benefit would be increased science payload capacity, and higher power for instrumentation and communication, according to Darpa.

Using current technology, Nasa says, the 480m km journey to Mars would take about seven months. Engineers do not yet know how much time could be shaved off using nuclear technology, but Bill Nelson, a Nasa administrator, said it would allow spacecraft, and humans, to travel in deep space at record speed.

Global Report United Kingdom

en-gb

2023-02-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-02-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://theguardianweekly.pressreader.com/article/281865827613916

Guardian/Observer