Nuclear-powered spaceships
NASA has announced plans to develop Space Reactor-1 Freedom, the first nuclear-reactor-powered interplanetary spacecraft, targeting an uncrewed Mars mission by end of 2028 with arrival in 2029. Nuclear propulsion could enable faster, more efficient spaceflight while reducing astronaut exposure to cosmic radiation. Though the technology is feasible and the Soviet Union previously deployed nuclear reactors in orbit, the US has repeatedly started and stopped related programs over 75 years due to high costs and technical challenges, with the latest casualty being DRACO in 2025.
Key points
- NASA developing Space Reactor-1 Freedom for uncrewed Mars mission targeting 2028–2029
- Nuclear propulsion could reduce travel time and cosmic radiation exposure for astronauts
- Multiple past US programs canceled; DRACO ended in 2025 due to experimentation costs
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