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NASA has marked the 60th anniversary of the launch into space of its first nuclear-powered satellite. Transit IV-A - an experimental navigational satellite with a radioisotope-powered generator - was launched by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory from Cape Canaveral on 29 June 1961, and NASA has since flown more than 25 missions carrying a nuclear power system.

Date: Thursday, 01 July 2021
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/NASA-marks-60-years-of-nuclear-power-in-space

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) said on 9 April that it had awarded a $22 million contract to General Atomics to design a small nuclear reactor for space propulsion under the demonstration rocket for agile cislunar operations (Draco) project. “Cislunar” refers to space between the Earth and the moon. Draco, set up in 2020, aims to demonstrate nuclear thermal propulsion, namely, using a nuclear reactor to heat rocket fuel in order to generate thrust. In May 2020, Darpa’s Tactical Technology Office issued a “broad agency announcement” asking for proposals to test a nuclear thermal propulsion system in orbit by 2025.

Date: Tuesday, 13 April 2021
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsgeneral-atomics-to-develop-nuclear-reactor-to-power-moon-missions-8663297

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has delivered the nuclear power system for the Perseverance rover for NASA's Mars 2020 mission which is due to launch next month. The Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) was fuelled, built and tested by DOE's national laboratories.

Date: Saturday, 13 June 2020
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Nuclear-power-system-delivered-for-Mars-rover-laun

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) yesterday announced the successful testing of a uranium-fuelled Stirling engine for use in possible future missions to Mars. Testing of the Kilopower reactor - which could be used to provide power to missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond - began at NASA's Nevada National Security Site in November 2017 and was completed in March.

Date: Thursday, 03 May 2018
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/NASA-successfully-tests-Kilopower-reactor

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and the Department of Energy are testing a small 10kWe nuclear reactor for use on Mars.

Date: Monday, 22 January 2018
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsthe-us-develops-reactor-to-support-life-on-mars-6033107

Space travel to Mars and beyond may only be possible through the use of nuclear rocket technology, NASA suggests. Such spacecraft would be much faster than conventional craft, cutting the length of the mission and thereby reducing radiation exposure to astronauts.

Date: Friday, 31 May 2013
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Nuclear-rocket-puts-Mars-within-reach