NASA Proposes Nuclear Rocket Design for Future Space Mission; Will It Be Possible to Send Astronauts to Mars in Just 45 Days?

The world is in the era of space exploration when space organizations, like NASA, are trying to send people to the Moon and Mars. That means they are developing new technologies that range from life support and radiation shielding to improving their rockets' power and propulsion. For now, Nuclear Thermal and Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NTP/NEP) is a strong contender.

NASA announced financing for a nuclear-powered rocket that might reduce the time it takes to reach Mars from seven months to 45 days. The Bimodal Nuclear Thermal Rocket might be utilized to carry both astronauts and freight around the Solar System, avoiding key dangers associated with interplanetary travel, including radiation exposure.

NASA Proposes Nuclear Rocket Design for Future Space Mission; Will It Be Possible to Send Astronauts to Mars in Just 45 Days?

(Photo : NASA)
Bimodal Nuclear Thermal Rockets conduct nuclear fission reactions similar to those safely employed at nuclear power plants including submarines. The energy is used to heat the liquid hydrogen propellant.

Using Nuclear Power To Explore the Universe

Universe Today previously reported that NASA and other space agencies around the world have accomplished a lot of amazing feats in terms of space exploration. They have sent manned missions to the Moon, explored Mars, mapped Mercury and Venus, and surveyed the Outer Solar System.

But they are moving forward by making nuclear rockets that are more fuel and cost-effective while also providing the necessary power to get astronauts, and freight to their destinations. An October 2014 presentation by Dr. Michael G. Houts of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center proposes nuclear power and propulsion for future space missions.

Houts said during his presentation that a fission reactor could be used in a rocket to design the NTP in which uranium or deuterium reactions are utilized to heat liquid hydrogen inside a reactor to convert it into ionized hydrogen gas that will be channeled to a rocket nozzle to generate thrust.

Another method is the NEP, which involves the same basic reactor converting its heat and energy into electrical energy to power the engine. Both NTP and NEP rely on nuclear fission to generate propulsion instead of chemical propellants that have been mainly used in current rockets.

NTP and NEP offer major advantages, such as a virtually unlimited energy source. Houts' report said that the NTP rocket could generate 200kWt of power using a kilogram of uranium for up to 13 years. Also, a nuclear-powered engine could provide higher thrust relative to the quantity of propellant utilized.

Reignited Nuclear Power Program for Future Space Missions

During the early years of the space race, NASA and the Soviet space program spent decades studying nuclear propulsion. But ASA has now selected a nuclear concept for Phase I development as part of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program for 2023.

A crewed journey to Mars might last up to three years using current propulsion technologies. These expeditions would launch every 26 months when Earth and Mars are closest to each other and would spend at least six to nine months in transit.

According to Science Alert, the new class of bimodal nuclear propulsion will be using a wave rotor topping cycle that could reduce transit times to Mars. It would cut the whole mission duration down to 45 days (six and a half weeks) rather than years, lessening the key dangers connected with Mars missions, such as radiation exposure, microgravity duration, and related health issues.

Additionally, new reactor designs are being proposed to offer a consistent power source for long-duration surface missions when solar and wind power are not always available.

Gosse's proposal was one of 14 chosen by the NAIC this year for Phase I development, which includes a $12,500 award to help with the maturation of the technology and procedures involved.