Nasa has announced a series of “transformative” initiatives including plans to launch a nuclear electric propulsion spacecraft to Mars in December 2028 and a three-phase plan to establish a lunar base incorporating nuclear-driven heat and power.
The announcements follow a December 2025 executive order with a range of space-related mandates, including the return of Americans to the Moon by 2028, the establishment of lunar outpost elements by 2030 and growth of the commercial space economy.
Nasa’s plans include launching Space Reactor-1 Freedom (SR-1 Freedom), the first nuclear powered interplanetary spacecraft, to Mars in December 2028.
When SR-1 Freedom reaches Mars, it will deploy the Skyfall payload of Ingenuity‑class helicopters to continue exploring the Red Planet.
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