New Delhi: After decades of study, and in response to the new National Space Policy under the Trump administration, NASA has announced the first nuclear
powered interplanetary spacecraft mission. The Space Reactor-1 (SR1) Freedom mission will be launched before the end of 2028, and will demonstrate nuclear electric propulsion in deep space. The propulsion technology is an efficient approach to transport mass in deep space, and allows for high power missions beyond Jupiter, where the solar arrays are ineffective because of the great distances to the Sun. At Mars, the SR-1 Freedom mission will deploy the Skyfall payload, consisting of three Ingenuity-class helicopters.
These Mars copters will prospect for minerals and subsurface deposits of water ice, and identify suitable landing spots for future crewed missions. These helicopters will continue exploration of the Red Planet. The SR-1 Freedom mission will establish flight heritage for nuclear hardware, set regulatory and launch precedent, and activate the industrial base for future fission power systems across propulsion, surface and long-duration missions. NASA is partnering with the US Department of Energy to unlock the capabilities necessary to realise the space ambitious of USA.
Bringing Nuclear to Space
NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya said, “With Space Reactor‑1 Freedom, we are finally putting nuclear propulsion on a trajectory out of the laboratory and into deep space.” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said, “NASA is building SR-1 Freedom, a nuclear electric propulsion spacecraft, launching to Mars in 2028. We are proud to announce this during the 250th year of the United States, the mission’s name reflects the spirit of American innovation and exploration. This mission will bring America’s nuclear power capabilities to space and deliver the Skyfall payload of Ingenuity class helicopters to explore the Red Planet. Nuclear power and propulsion will be the key to undertaking crewed missions to Mars and exploring the outer solar system. Space Reactor-1 (SR-1) Freedom will make the next giant leap and accomplish a key component of President Trump’s National Space Policy, bringing nuclear to space.”
