Mars Travel Just Got a Whole Lot Faster: Ohio State Engineers Unveil Game-Changing Nuclear Rocket Engine

BREAKING NEWS Mars Travel Time Just Got a Whole Lot Shorter: New Nuclear Rocket Concept Unveiled Ohio State University engineers have made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize space travel to Mars, slashing the journey time in half. The team has developed a new nuclear rocket engine concept called the Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket (CNTR), which uses liquid uranium to heat propellant directly, producing more efficiency than traditional chemical rockets. The Breakthrough According to research published in Acta Astronautica, the CNTR engine promises to deliver round trips to Mars within a single year. Traditional chemical engines produce around 450 seconds of thrust from a given amount of propellant, while nuclear propulsion engines can reach up to 900 seconds. The CNTR is expected to push that number even higher. Timeline The Ohio State University team has been working on the CNTR concept for several years and has made significant progress in recent months. The research was published online in January 2023, with the team planning to conduct live tests of the engine in the near future. Immediate Impact The implications of this breakthrough are massive. With a safe one-way trip to Mars now possible in just six months, space agencies and private companies will be able to plan more ambitious missions to the Red Planet. The CNTR engine could also pave the way for human settlements on Mars, making interplanetary travel more accessible and affordable. Background Nuclear propulsion has been a topic of interest in the space industry for decades, with several countries investing heavily in research and development. However, previous attempts at nuclear-powered rockets have been plagued by safety concerns and technical issues. The CNTR engine addresses these problems by using liquid uranium to heat propellant directly, eliminating the need for complex and heavy nuclear reactors. What's Next The Ohio State University team will continue to refine the CNTR engine design and conduct live tests in the coming months. If successful, this technology could be used on future Mars missions, potentially paving the way for a new era of space exploration and development. *This story is developing. Information compiled from Science reporting.*