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Mars Mission

All articles tagged with #mars mission

NASA's Space Reactor-1 Freedom aims for Mars with a trio of scout helicopters
science12 days ago

NASA's Space Reactor-1 Freedom aims for Mars with a trio of scout helicopters

NASA plans to launch Space Reactor-1 Freedom in 2028, the first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft, using nuclear electric propulsion to reach Mars and carry three Skyfall scout helicopters to map terrain and locate subsurface water ice for future crewed missions; this mission sits within NASA’s broader exploration reboot, which pauses Gateway to focus on a permanent lunar base while keeping Dragonfly to Titan and Rosalind Franklin Rover to Mars on track.

via Yahoo|
#mars-mission#nasa#nuclear-propulsion
NASA bets on nuclear-electric power for a 2028 Mars mission
space17 days ago

NASA bets on nuclear-electric power for a 2028 Mars mission

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and agency leaders announced Space Reactor-1 Freedom, a nuclear-electric propulsion mission to Mars set for December 2028 that repurposes the Lunar Gateway’s Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) to run xenon ion thrusters and carry three Ingenuity-class helicopters for surface scouting. The spacecraft will host a 20+ kilowatt fission reactor with a closed Brayton power cycle, using solar panels to supply electricity when the reactor is off. The mission aims to demonstrate Nuclear Electric Propulsion as a pathfinder for high‑power, long‑duration journeys and to inform future missions, with readiness milestones in 2027–2028 and a plan to arrive near Mars about a year after launch; it could spawn further concept missions like Lunar Reactor-1 and invite commercial partners and student payloads.

via NASASpaceFlight.com -|
#ingenuity-class-helicopters#mars-mission#nuclear-electric-propulsion
Russia’s Nuclear Plasma Engine Aims to Slash Mars Trip to 30 Days
science1 month ago

Russia’s Nuclear Plasma Engine Aims to Slash Mars Trip to 30 Days

Russian researchers say a magnetoplasma accelerator powered by an onboard nuclear reactor could propel hydrogen at about 100 km/s, enabling a 30‑day Mars voyage. Ground tests are underway in a 14-meter vacuum chamber, with a flight‑model target by 2030, but questions remain about real‑world readiness, regulatory hurdles, and the lack of peer‑reviewed data.

via The Daily Galaxy|
#hydrogen-fuel#mars-mission#nuclear-reactor
Plasma propulsion targets weeks-long Mars trips
technology2 months ago

Plasma propulsion targets weeks-long Mars trips

US, Russian, and Chinese teams are racing to turn plasma propulsion—using magnetically confined, ionized propellants—into a practical deep-space drive. Concepts like NASA's VASIMR and Pulse Plasma Rocket, along with Rosatom's magnetoplasma accelerator, promise far higher exhaust velocities than chemical rockets and could cut Mars transit from months to weeks (with some projections around a month), but significant challenges remain in power generation, heat management, and material durability before a crewed mission is feasible.

via TechSpot|
#magnetoplasma-thruster#mars-mission#plasma-propulsion
Russia Tests Plasma Engine Aiming to Halve Mars Travel Time
science2 months ago

Russia Tests Plasma Engine Aiming to Halve Mars Travel Time

Russia’s Troitsk Institute (Rosatom) is testing a 300 kW pulsed plasma engine that uses hydrogen and an onboard nuclear reactor to provide continuous thrust, potentially cutting Mars travel from months to about one to two months. Ground tests in a vacuum chamber suggest long operational life, with space deployment hoped for around 2030, though the tech remains unproven in space and faces regulatory and safety hurdles.

via Yahoo! Tech|
#hydrogen-propellant#mars-mission#nuclear-reactor
Russia Tests Plasma Engine Aimed at Months-Long Mars Trips
space2 months ago

Russia Tests Plasma Engine Aimed at Months-Long Mars Trips

Russian researchers at Rosatom’s Troitsk Institute are testing a 300 kW plasma propulsion system that accelerates hydrogen with an onboard nuclear reactor, potentially cutting Mars travel time to about one to two months; current ground tests report exhaust speeds up to 100 km/s, roughly 6 N thrust, and a 2,400-hour service life, but the system has not yet flown or undergone peer review, and deployment depends on further testing, funding, and regulatory approvals toward a 2030 timeframe.

via Indian Defence Review|
#hydrogen-fuel#mars-mission#nuclear-power
Blue Origin Targets November 9 for Second New Glenn Launch of ESCAPADE Mission
space5 months ago

Blue Origin Targets November 9 for Second New Glenn Launch of ESCAPADE Mission

Blue Origin's second New Glenn rocket launch is scheduled for Nov. 9 from Cape Canaveral, carrying NASA's ESCAPADE mission to study solar wind interactions with Mars. This mission will follow a novel trajectory allowing launch at any time, not just during traditional Mars windows, and aims to advance future Mars exploration capabilities. The launch also includes a Viasat data relay test, marking the first operational payload for New Glenn, with a focus on successful booster recovery.

via SpaceNews|
#blue-origin#escapade#launch-delay
SpaceX's Starship Achieves 11th Successful Test Flight and Prepares for Next Phase
technology5 months ago

SpaceX's Starship Achieves 11th Successful Test Flight and Prepares for Next Phase

SpaceX successfully completed its 11th test flight of the Starship from Texas, marking the final launch of its 'Version 2' model and paving the way for the next-generation Starship V3, which features significant upgrades like a new propulsion system, energy storage, and docking capabilities, with future plans including orbital flights, lunar missions, and Mars exploration.

via Space|
#mars-mission#spacex#starship