nuclear-news

NASA and Rosatom want nuclear rockets to take astronauts to Mars

Nasa wants to use nuclear rockets to get to Mars: Space agency claims the technique is ‘most effective way’ of reaching red planet

• Nuclear propulsion weighs almost half as much as a chemical rocket
• Nasa is also are planning to build rockets powered by nuclear fission
• They hope it could be used to carry astronauts to the red planet in 2033
• Follows news this week that Russia plans to test a nuclear engine in 2018

By ELLIE ZOLFAGHARIFARD FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Nuclear thermal propulsion is ‘the most effective’ way of sending humans to Mars.

That’s according to Nasa administrator and former astronaut, Charles Bolden, who made the statement when speaking to Congress this week.    

‘We are on a journey to Mars and most people believe that, in the end, nuclear thermal propulsion will be the most effective form of propulsion to get there,’ he said.

He didn’t, however, expand on details on how quickly Nasa hoped the technology could get astronauts to Mars.  ……..’A nuclear power unit makes it possible to reach Mars in a matter of one to one and a half months, providing capability for manoeuvring and acceleration,’ Sergey Kirienko, head of Rosatom told RT . http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3499441/Nasa-wants-use-nuclear-rockets-Mars-Space-agency-claims-technique-effective-way-reaching-red-planet.html

March 19, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Russia, technology, USA