NASA to test nuclear rocket engine that could take humans to Mars in 45 days

This is the first time a nuclear powered engine has been tested in fifty years

NASA has revealed plans to create a nuclear-powered rocket that could send astronauts to Mars in just 45 days.

NASA’s current rocket systems are based on the century-old, traditional method of chemical propulsion — in which an oxidizer is mixed with flammable rocket fuel to create a flaming jet of thrust. The proposed nuclear system, on the other hand, will harness the chain reaction from ripping apart atoms to power a nuclear fission reactor that would be “three or more times more efficient” and could reduce Mars flight times to a fraction of the current seven months, according to the agency.

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