NASA has announced Space Reactor-1 Freedom, a nuclear-reactor-powered spacecraft slated for an uncrewed mission to Mars. According to MIT Technology Review, the craft is meant to launch by the end of 2028 and arrive in 2029. If it works, it would be the first interplanetary spacecraft powered by a nuclear reactor, potentially making trips to Mars faster and reducing astronauts’ exposure to cosmic radiation.
The spacecraft would use nuclear electric propulsion: a uranium-fueled reactor generates heat, which is converted to electricity, and that electricity ionizes a gas to create low but efficient thrust. The design places the reactor at the tip of the craft, with large fins radiating heat into space. The reactor would be switched on about two days after launch, once the spacecraft is safely away from Earth. Experts quoted in the report say the technology is doable, but launch vibrations and ground-test safety remain serious challenges.
The project follows a history of canceled US programs, including DRACO, which ended in 2025 because of high costs and difficulty testing safely. NASA says the reactor is being built at Idaho National Laboratory and is on track for a late-2028 launch. If successful, the roughly one-year trip to Mars could also help NASA develop a reactor for the lunar surface, a goal China and Russia have also discussed. Since this article draws on a single source, there are no differing accounts to compare.