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NASA sends a nuclear-powered spacecraft to Mars. In conjunction with Tuesday’s announcement New ignition programwhich features a planned lunar base and a successor to the International Space Station, the agency unveiled the SR-1 Freedom vehicle, scheduled to launch in 2028 as the first nuclear-powered vehicle to leave low-Earth orbit.
First, the SR-1 Freedom will serve as a technology demonstration to show that a nuclear-powered spacecraft is a viable option. If successful, it opens the possibility of deeper space exploration by addressing range limitations imposed by solar energy and liquid fuels.
The SR-1 Freedom is also responsible for delivering the Skyfall payload to Mars. Skyfall is a team of helicopters that will roam Mars with sensors to find ice beneath the surface. It’s no secret Mars It contains water Far from the surface, but NASA aims to find a large enough pocket of ice near the surface to help sustain human life in future missions.
The SR-1 Freedom will have a nuclear reactor, electric propulsion system, and some massive heatsinks.
It is not NASA’s first attempt to solve the problem of nuclear space travel. The agency has spent $20 billion on more than a dozen failed attempts using just one nuclear reactor. SNAP-10A Which was launched into low Earth orbit in 1965. It worked for 43 days before a high voltage malfunction caused it to stop. SNAP-10a remains in polar orbit to this day.
The reactor will be at the front of the spacecraft, with the electronics and propulsion system at the back to help prevent the reactor from damaging it.
What we know about the SR-1 Freedom
Steve Sinacor, director of NASA’s Surface Energy Fission Program, told reporters on… press conference That NASA would select a launch vehicle from the available inventory and that there would be regulatory and inspection procedures with the Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Board prior to any selection.
NASA plans to begin hardware development for the SR-1 Freedom once the design is finalized. This is expected to take about 18 months, with assembly beginning in January 2028. Fueling, texting and assembly of the reactor will continue until the SR-1 Freedom arrives at the launch site in October 2028.
The SR-1 Freedom is targeting a December 2028 launch, as it is the next available launch window for Mars after opening in late 2026. The nuclear electric motor is expected to produce more than 20 kilowatts of electrical modules and will be integrated with existing spacecraft technology to make launch timing more realistic.
The reactor will be powered by high-quality, low-enriched uranium dioxide fuel and will transfer its heat through heat pipes protected by a boron carbide radiation shield. The heat is converted into energy using an advanced closed-cycle Brayton energy conversion system, which then powers the electric propulsion system at the other end of the spacecraft.
Excess heat is handled by a massive heat sink made of composite materials and titanium. The spacecraft’s brain is located between the heat sink and the propulsion system, and will send data back to Earth.
Why nuclear energy?
“Nuclear energy in space not only enhances space exploration, it enables it,” Sinacor said during the press conference. “By increasing energy density, nuclear power will keep lunar bases running for 14 days and 354 hours of night.”
One of the big problems in deep space exploration and long-term space exploration is energy, and NASA hopes that nuclear energy can solve this problem. Solar energy is a challenge on the Moon because of its two-week night cycle. According to Synacor, it would need “football fields of solar panels” to power a long-term base on Mars.
The next planet is Jupiter, where the efficiency of solar panels drops to 4% compared to Earth. Once past Jupiter, solar energy becomes negligible, making it a poor choice for deep space missions.
NASA currently uses liquid fuel for spaceflight. This does not work for long-haul missions and flights because Mass fractionwhich is a fancy calculation that basically says it’s too heavy for long-term spaceflight. The spacecraft will not be able to transport people and cargo efficiently. Sinacor says these are “physical constraints” rather than engineering problems, and that nuclear power solves them.
The SR-1 Freedom is NASA’s first attempt. Lunar Reactor-1 (LR-1) is the second.
What comes after the SR-1 Freedom
The SR-1 Freedom marks the beginning of many projects to come over the next two decades. If the SR-1 Freedom proves successful, the next project will be Lunar Reactor-1, a nuclear reactor that would serve as the power source for NASA’s upcoming moon base.
Having a nuclear-powered spacecraft and base would open the door to more of both, including a potential human mission to Mars, larger and more powerful nuclear reactors, and potential commercial participation from companies wanting to get in on the action.