For the first time in history: NASA will launch a spacecraft with a nuclear power plant to Mars

NASA is planning a historic mission to Mars in late 2028, the first time it will test a spacecraft with a nuclear-electric propulsion system. If successful, the technology could become the basis for future human flights to the Red Planet.

Politico reports on the preparation of the mission, citing documents from the American space agency.

The new vehicle is to deliver the SkyFall science mission to Mars, which will consist of three autonomous helicopters. They will explore the planet’s surface, search for possible water reserves, and collect data that could be important for future expeditions.

NASA emphasizes that the main goal of the project is to test how a nuclear reactor will perform during a long flight far beyond low-Earth orbit. In addition, experts want to test a new engine system that will allow for the creation of much more efficient spacecraft for distant missions in the future.

“The mission’s launch, scheduled for late 2028, will demonstrate the potential of nuclear power in space and help create fuel-efficient spacecraft for future human missions to Mars and deep space,” NASA said.

To implement the project, the agency will use a power module that was originally developed for the Gateway lunar station. After the termination of that program, it was decided to adapt it for a flight to Mars, which will reduce costs and speed up the preparation of the mission.

The preliminary cost of the Space Reactor-1 Freedom program is estimated at approximately $2.1 billion, while funding for the SkyFall scientific mission itself is not included in this amount. NASA is working together with the US Department of Energy to create a nuclear reactor.

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