NASA and DARPA have partnered with aerospace and defence company Lockheed Martin to develop a spacecraft with a nuclear thermal rocket engine. The initiative, dubbed the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO), is scheduled to be completed by 2027.
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Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) is a type of rocket propulsion that uses a nuclear reactor to heat a propellant, typically hydrogen, to extremely high temperatures. The hot gas is then expanded through a nozzle, creating thrust. NTP is much more efficient than traditional chemical rockets, meaning that it can travel faster and farther with less propellant.
The DRACO spacecraft will be used to demonstrate the feasibility of NTP for cislunar operations, which refers to activities in the space between Earth and the Moon. The spacecraft will be launched from a conventional rocket and then use its nuclear thermal engine to reach a “nuclear safe orbit,” where any potential radiation leaks would not affect Earth.
The DRACO spacecraft could have a number of applications, including transporting cargo and people to the Moon, and even providing power for future Martian habitats. The development of NTP is a major step forward in the quest to explore space more efficiently and safely.
Here are some of the key advantages of NTP over traditional chemical rockets:
- Increased efficiency: NTP is two to five times more efficient than chemical rockets, meaning that it can travel faster and farther with less propellant.
- Reduced propellant needs: This leaves more room on the spacecraft for storing scientific equipment and other essentials.
- More options for abort scenarios: The nuclear engines make it easier to alter the ship’s trajectory for a quicker-than-expected return trip.
- Ideal for Mars travel: NTP could be used to significantly reduce the travel time to Mars, which would limit a crew’s exposure to radiation.
The DRACO spacecraft is a major milestone in the development of NTP. If successful, it could pave the way for future missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as other destinations in the solar system.
