3 billion USD over 5 years and is called the Nuclear Systems Initiative.
Part of this program will be researching improvements to the thermoelectric nuclear power systems used on missions like Voyager for the last 30 years.
Another part of this program is expected to test a nuclear powered VASIMR electric rocket;
VASIMR
VASIMR differs from the ion drive used on Deep Space One in that it's not a low impulse drive but an engine capable of both low and high impulse output. In design terms think of it as a TOKAMAK fusion reactor core where the plasma is accelerated and ejected for thrust.
With VASIMR a Mars mission could take as little as 3 months instead of the 1-2 years using conventional propulsion.
Dr. Mordrid
Part of this program will be researching improvements to the thermoelectric nuclear power systems used on missions like Voyager for the last 30 years.
Another part of this program is expected to test a nuclear powered VASIMR electric rocket;
VASIMR
VASIMR differs from the ion drive used on Deep Space One in that it's not a low impulse drive but an engine capable of both low and high impulse output. In design terms think of it as a TOKAMAK fusion reactor core where the plasma is accelerated and ejected for thrust.
With VASIMR a Mars mission could take as little as 3 months instead of the 1-2 years using conventional propulsion.
Dr. Mordrid
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