On January 14, 2025, NASA announced its consideration of nuclear-powered electric propulsion to expedite future missions to Mars. A round trip to the Red Planet could take up to two years, raising concerns about astronaut safety due to prolonged exposure to low-dose radiation.
The proposed nuclear electric propulsion system utilizes a nuclear reactor to generate electricity that ionizes gaseous propellants, providing thrust. Researchers at NASA's Langley Research Center are developing the Modular Assembled Radiators for Nuclear Electric Propulsion Vehicles (MARVL), which aims to enhance the heat dissipation system by enabling robotic and autonomous assembly in space.
Amanda Stark, the principal investigator for MARVL, emphasized that this approach allows for more flexible designs, avoiding the challenges of fitting the entire system into a single rocket. The innovative assembly method could involve sending components to space separately, where robots would connect them to form the propulsion system.
This project may revolutionize the design of nuclear propulsion systems, highlighting the potential for in-space assembly and expanding our understanding of spacecraft capabilities.