Engineering:Space Reactor‑1 Freedom

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Space Reactor-1 Freedom
Rendering of Space Reactor-1 Freedom
Mission typeNuclear electric propulsion technology demonstration
OperatorNASA
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer
Power>20 kW of electrical power from reactor
Start of mission
Launch date2028 (planned)
Invalid value for parameter "type"
 

Space Reactor-1 Freedom (SR-1) is a proposed NASA spacecraft intended to be the first nuclear fission-powered interplanetary mission and to demonstrate nuclear electric propulsion in deep space.[1] Announced in March 2026, the spacecraft would combine a closed Brayton cycle fission reactor generating more than 20 kW of electrical power with the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) previously developed for the Lunar Gateway space station.[2] The reactor is to be fueled by high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), using uranium dioxide fuel encased in a boron carbide radiation shield.[2]

Configuration of SR-1 with the PPE to left and the reactor to right

For propulsion, the PPE is equipped with four 6 kilowatt (kW) Hall-effect thrusters built by Busek and three 12 kW Advanced Electric Propulsion System Hall-effect thrusters developed by NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne.[3][4][5][6]

SR-1 is proposed for launch in December 2028 on a trajectory to Mars.[2] It will demonstrate the technology to potentially reduce travel time, but will not at this size be significantly faster than previous probes.[7] At Mars it would deploy the Skyfall payload—an entry capsule carrying three Ingenuity-class helicopters to scout potential landing sites for future human missions and survey subsurface water ice.[8]

The mission, jointly sponsored by NASA and the United States Department of Energy, is intended to demonstrate nuclear propulsion and power technologies for sustained exploration beyond the Moon, including future missions to Mars and the outer Solar System.[9] Data from SR-1 is also expected to support development of Lunar Reactor-1 (LR-1), a fission surface power system designed to provide continuous energy for a lunar base during periods without sunlight.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Low, Lauren E. (March 24, 2026). "NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America's National Space Policy". NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-unveils-initiatives-to-achieve-americas-national-space-policy/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Caton, Ryan; Bergin, Chris (March 24, 2026). "NASA unveils Space Reactor-1 Freedom mission to Mars in 2028". NASASpaceflight. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2026/03/nasa-sr1-freedom-mars-2028/. 
  3. ↑ Foust, Jeff (2019-05-23). "NASA selects Maxar to build first Gateway element". https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-maxar-to-build-first-gateway-element. 
  4. ↑ Cassady, R. Joseph; Wiley, Sam; Jackson, Jerry (October 2018). Status of Advanced Electric Propulsion Systems for Exploration Missions (Report). Aerojet Rocketdyne. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/R_Cassady/publication/328997773_Status_of_Advanced_Electric_Propulsion_Systems_for_Exploration_Missions/links/5beee33692851c6b27c37074/Status-of-Advanced-Electric-Propulsion-Systems-for-Exploration-Missions.pdf. Retrieved March 26, 2026. 
  5. ↑ "Maxar and Busek Thruster System for NASA Lunar Gateway Passes Critical Milestone". PR Newswire (Press release). Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  6. ↑ "Advanced Electric Propulsion System passes full-power test milestone". 15 November 2019. https://newatlas.com/space/advanced-electric-propulsion-system-aeps-full-power-test/. 
  7. ↑ Chang, Kenneth (2026-03-24). "NASA Sets Out New Plans and Timelines for Moon Base and Nuclear Mars Mission". https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/science/nasa-moon-base-mars-spacecraft.html. 
  8. ↑ Clark, Stephen (March 25, 2026). "Here is NASA's plan for nuking Gateway and sending it to Mars" (in en). https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/03/here-is-nasas-plan-for-nuking-gateway-and-sending-it-to-mars/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "America Underway in Space on Nuclear Power". NASA. March 24, 2026. https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/america-underway-in-space-on-nuclear-power.pdf. 
  • Media related to Space Reactor‑1 Freedom at Wikimedia Commons



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