NASA is sending a nuclear-powered spacecraft to Mars. Alongside Tuesday’s announcement of its new Ignition program, which features a planned Moon base and a successor to the International Space Station, the agency revealed the SR-1 Freedom, set to launch in 2028 as the first nuclear-powered craft to leave low Earth orbit.
First, SR-1 Freedom will act as a tech demonstration to show that a nuclear-powered spacecraft is a viable option. If it works, it opens the possibility of deeper space exploration by addressing the range limitations imposed by solar power and liquid fuel.
SR-1 Freedom is also responsible for delivering the Skyfall payload to Mars. Skyfall is a team of helicopters that will scour Mars with sensors to find subsurface ice. It’s no secret that Mars harbors water far beneath the surface, but NASA aims to find a large enough pocket of ice near the surface to help sustain human life in future missions.
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