NASA tests fuel for a nuclear rocket engine, aiming for a 45-day journey to Mars. Check out the photos of this groundbreaking development!

The nuclear rocket engine utilizes the energy from nuclear fission to generate thrust, enabling the spacecraft to move. At the core of such an engine is a nuclear reactor, which provides the necessary heat for thrust production. Scientists have successfully tested a new type of fuel for this nuclear reactor at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. There is hope that this fuel will allow for a 2-3 fold reduction in the travel time for astronauts to Mars, reports IFLScience.

With current chemical rocket engines, a journey to Mars takes at least 6 months. During this time, the crew must avoid the harmful effects of cosmic radiation and maintain a substantial supply of water and food. Additionally, the mission is complicated by a 20-minute communication delay, which prevents astronauts from maintaining constant contact with Earth.

To minimize all the negative factors associated with a flight to Mars, it is essential to develop a functional nuclear rocket engine that will enable astronauts to reach the Red Planet much faster. The development of such engines is already underway, involving both NASA scientists and private companies.

This engine features a nuclear reactor for heat generation, where liquid hydrogen fuel circulates through the reactor's active zone. Uranium atoms undergo fission within the reactor's active zone, releasing heat. This physical process heats the fuel and converts it into gas, which is expelled through the engine nozzle to generate thrust.

NASA's research in 2023 indicated that this type of nuclear rocket engine could reduce the flight time to Mars to just 45 days.

The company General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems is currently developing new fuel for nuclear rocket engine reactors and has successfully conducted tests in collaboration with NASA. The testing was aimed at assessing the fuel's ability to meet the high-performance specifications required to withstand the extreme conditions of space. As a result, the fuel endured peak temperatures of 2327 degrees Celsius.

According to scientists, the fuel must withstand extremely high temperatures and the environment of hot hydrogen gas that the reactor typically encounters in a nuclear rocket engine operating in space. The testing demonstrated that the fuel can withstand these operational conditions, bringing the creation of a functional nuclear rocket engine closer to reality.

Representatives from General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems state that the future nuclear rocket engine will be 2-3 times more efficient than current chemical rocket engines, allowing astronauts to reach Mars significantly faster—within 2-3 months.