This kind of technology will drastically reduce the time it takes to reach Mars, making long-term space travel less risky for those on board. A typical liquid-fueled spacecraft typically takes around seven or eight months to reach the Red Planet. Scientists say nuclear rocket engines could cut that time by at least a third. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the shortened trip would give crews more flexibility when flying to Mars. “You allow yourself to be on the surface for maybe three or four weeks and come back in a reasonable amount of time instead of being out for two or three years,” he said. And although the system is nuclear-powered, Nelson said it would use low-enriched uranium rather than weapons-grade highly enriched uranium.
A shorter trip to and from Mars also means astronauts will be less exposed to cosmic radiation in space. Research has shown that without the protection of the Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field, humans can receive an entire year’s worth of radiation on Earth from a single day in space. For missions to Mars, that means an astronaut could be exposed to radiation 700 times higher than on Earth, according to the European Space Agency.
The system uses heat from the fission reactor to convert liquid fuel into gas, which is then sent through a nozzle to power the spacecraft. According to NASA, this type of engine can generate more thrust and is at least three times more efficient than chemical rockets. This means carrying less propellant on board, freeing up space to transport more equipment, scientific instruments or other cargo to the Martian surface. “It could completely change people’s perception of what’s possible in space — what you can carry, how fast you can get there,” DARPA Director Stephanie Tompkins said.
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