US space agency NASA will need an “aggressive” development programme to overcome a number of challenges related to space nuclear propulsion technology for a proposed manned mission to Mars to become possible in 2039, a report found.
The report, commissioned by NASA and prepared by a National Academies committee, focused on the state of nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) and nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) systems.
NASA asked for each system to be assessed based on its ability to support a human exploration mission to Mars with a 2039 launch date.
The report, commissioned by NASA and prepared by a National Academies committee, focused on the state of nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) and nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) systems.
NASA asked for each system to be assessed based on its ability to support a human exploration mission to Mars with a 2039 launch date.
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