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Space
Space
Science
Keith Cooper

NASA is developing the '1st nuclear powered interplanetary spacecraft.' What about the Voyager probes?

NASA Nuclear Power Mars Earth European Space Agency SNAP
An illustration of a long needle-shaped spacecraft flying towards a red-and-orange orb in space.

This week, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman announced the agency will be developing the "first nuclear powered interplanetary spacecraft" ahead of a planned 2028 launch to Mars.

The ambition of the mission, known as Space Reactor-1 (SR1) Freedom, goes far beyond its proposed mission of reaching Mars. If it is successful, it will be the culmination of over 60 years of experiments and failed projects in nuclear propulsion, and it could potentially transform interplanetary space travel.

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