Currently, the race to explore and conquer space amidst a technological explosion has prompted Western nations to develop launch vehicles using nuclear propulsion.
On July 26, 2023, the United States announced plans to launch the world’s first spacecraft powered by nuclear energy into Earth’s orbit by 2027.
Specifically, under a contract issued by NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.S. Department of Defense is seeking to develop a nuclear thermal rocket engine—a key technology long coveted by both NASA and the Pentagon, which could significantly accelerate space travel and enable humans to reach Mars faster, as reported by the Washington Post.
At a press conference on July 26, NASA and DARPA also announced that they had reached an agreement with the largest U.S. defense contractor, Lockheed Martin, to design, manufacture, and test prototypes of this nuclear thermal rocket engine. Should Lockheed Martin meet all critical milestones, including a test flight, the company will receive nearly $500 million, half of which will come from NASA and half from DARPA.
A New Era for America and Humanity
“We believe we are opening a new era for America and humanity, becoming a ‘helpful hand’ supporting exploration missions to the Moon as well as deep space exploration for mankind,” stated Kirk Shireman, Vice President of Lockheed Martin.
According to the contract, the defense giant Lockheed Martin will both develop and demonstrate the spacecraft in a project named Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO). Lockheed Martin indicated that nuclear thermal propulsion technology means engines that are 2 to 5 times more powerful and efficient than conventional rocket engines, which will naturally allow spacecraft/rockets to travel faster and farther.
Illustration of Lockheed Martin’s spacecraft using nuclear rocket engines to ascend into Earth’s orbit. (Source: Lockheed Martin).
Lockheed Martin stated that their nuclear thermal propulsion technology will use a fission reactor to rapidly heat hydrogen propellant to extremely high temperatures, then expel that gas through the engine nozzle to create thrust.
The fission reactor of DRACO will operate by splitting low-enriched Uranium atoms within the nuclear reactor—a process that will convert frozen hydrogen (-251 degrees Celsius) into extremely hot gas (2,427 degrees Celsius) inside the engine, propelling the spacecraft forward.
This reactor will be built by Lockheed Martin’s partner, nuclear fuel supplier BWX Technologies (USA), in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Once the spacecraft is assembled with Lockheed Martin’s rocket engine, it will be positioned in a high orbit 700 to 2,000 kilometers above Earth. This spacecraft could remain in orbit for about 300 years—long enough for its hazardous radioactive fuel to decay to a safe level, according to Livescience.
This reactor will be built by BWX Technologies (USA) in Lynchburg, Virginia.
NASA stated that nuclear propulsion is a critical capability in NASA’s roadmap to send astronauts to Mars. A nuclear-powered rocket will facilitate faster trips to the Red Planet, making missions less complex and safer for the crew. This type of engine requires significantly less propellant than chemical rockets, thus allowing future space missions to carry more additional scientific equipment. It could also help NASA achieve its missions to return astronauts to the Moon and establish a long-term presence there.
The Pentagon is also interested in more efficient fuel sources for space travel, especially as they seek to create satellites that can maneuver in space, making them harder targets for adversaries. DARPA indicated that this technology would enable “heavier payload satellites to be moved to further locations in cislunar space—the area between Earth and the Moon.” Achieving this requires a leap forward in propulsion technology. The Pentagon is waiting for Lockheed Martin to make that breakthrough, Washington Post reports.
