NASA has enlisted the services of Lockheed Martin to develop a nuclear-powered spacecraft for interplanetary journeys. This advanced technology has the potential to reduce the duration of a manned expedition to Mars from a minimum of seven months to a mere 45 days. The rocket’s nuclear propulsion system will be powered by a fission reactor.
According to a recent article from Popular Mechanics, NASA is turning to nuclear technology as part of their mission to expedite a manned voyage to Mars. The agency’s current strategy includes reviving 70-year-old research on nuclear thermal technology and collaborating with contractors to begin trials of a nuclear-powered spacecraft as early as 2027.
Lockheed Martin has been contracted by NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the U.S. Department of Defense to develop, construct, and evaluate nuclear thermal rocket technology for a more efficient and quicker journey to the Red Planet. This advanced rocket, also known as the aerospike engine, is anticipated to have double the efficacy of traditional chemical rockets that use a combination of fuel and oxidizers for combustion.
According to a statement by Pam Melroy, the deputy administrator of NASA, collaborating with DARPA and various companies in the commercial space sector will facilitate the rapid development of technology required for sending humans to Mars. This partnership will serve as a significant milestone in achieving NASA’s goal of transporting crews into deep space for their Moon-to-Mars missions.
The spacecraft design, integration, and testing for the approximately $500 million project will be spearheaded by Lockheed Martin, according to a report by Popular Mechanics. Additionally, BWX Technologies will be responsible for the design and construction of the nuclear fission reactor that will power the engine.
According to DARPA program manager for the project, Tabitha Dodson, the DRACO project, which is also known as Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations, is expected to provide the country with advanced propulsion capability. This statement can be found on the DARPA website on July 26, 2023.
The acronym DARPA stands for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
A nuclear thermal rocket has the potential to achieve high thrust, similar to chemical propulsion, but with up to three times more efficiency. As a result, a trip to Mars, which currently takes at least seven months, could be completed in only 45 days with a nuclear-powered rocket.
During the 1950s, the United States began pursuing the development of nuclear rockets, but the project was abandoned due to budget cuts in the 1970s. The DRACO program seeks to build upon this early research, incorporating a new fuel option to overcome logistical challenges. By utilizing high-assay, low-enriched uranium fuel, the reactor can undergo nuclear fission to separate atoms, generate heat for liquid hydrogen, and propel the high-temperature gas through an engine nozzle to produce the necessary thrust.
The utilization of a nuclear thermal rocket not only decreases transit time, but also mitigates potential hazards for astronauts and minimizes the requirements for both supplies and systems, as stated by NASA and DARPA. This has the added benefit of improving overall efficiency.
According to Space News, the primary objective of the DRACO test is to send the spacecraft into space within a range of 435 to 1,240 miles. The craft will not perform any planned maneuvers, but rather rely on its reactor to utilize the new fuel and gather data during the journey. Additionally, the craft will carry two months’ worth of liquid hydrogen and may also conduct tests on the potential of in-space refueling.