Lockheed Martin, a US-based aerospace company, has been awarded a contract to develop cutting-edge nuclear-powered spacecraft technology.
When compared to chemical-based rockets, space nuclear propulsion stands out as a technology capable of producing tremendous thrust while doubling fuel efficiency. This makes it a promising tech option for future crewed missions to deep space destinations like Mars.
These technologies are critical for missions that demand higher energy production and longer operating lifespans than standard solar-powered spacecraft.
According to the official release, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) granted $33.7 million to the company under the Joint Emergent Technology Supplying On-Orbit Nuclear (JETSON) initiative to "mature high-power nuclear electric power and propulsion technologies and spacecraft design."
Heat-producing fission reactor
The core of the JETSON effort involves utilizing a heat-generating fission reactor. This heat will be transferred to Stirling engines, which in turn will generate an electrical output ranging from 6 kilowatts electric (kWe) to 20 kWe.
This output is substantially larger, almost four times that of typical solar arrays, and, importantly, it does not require constant exposure to sunlight to work.
This technique has the potential to generate far more electrical power than spacecraft that rely on solar panels, which normally produce roughly 600 watts, or equivalent to the output of six lightbulbs.
Nuclear electric-powered systems offer a valuable alternative for power generation in deep space exploration missions, particularly those distant from the sun or in shadowed locations.
“Nuclear fission development for space applications is key to introducing technologies that could dramatically change how we move and explore in the vastness of space,” said Barry Miles, JETSON program manager and principal investigator, at Lockheed Martin.
Miles further added: “From high-power electrical subsystem and electric propulsion, to nuclear thermal propulsion or fission surface power, Lockheed Martin is focused on developing these systems with our important government agencies and industry partners.”
JETSON effort key for future deep space missions
The JETSON team aims to supply on-board electrical power and power electric propulsion Hall thrusters for Lockheed Martin's LM2100 satellites. This endeavor is a critical step in advancing human expeditions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond using nuclear electric propulsion.
Lockheed will collaborate with Space Nuclear Power Corp (SpaceNukes) and BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) under this JETSON program, both of which have specialized experience in the development and design of nuclear power and reactors.
The official release highlights that the project is now undergoing "preliminary design review," with the possibility to move to the "critical design review level."
"A future JETSON flight experiment will enhance maneuver and power capabilities shaping future space force operations," said Andy Phelps, CEO of SpaceNukes.
Intuitive Machines, a Houston-based business, was awarded a $9.4 million contract, according to space.com. The space startup has been tasked with the job of developing a spacecraft concept that will use a small radioisotope power source.
The startup is preparing to launch a lunar lander, roughly the size of a truck, carrying NASA payloads in the upcoming new year. The company has set an ambitious goal of landing near the lunar south pole's rugged, treacherous surface. Named IM-1 mission launch, it was earlier scheduled for launch in November 2023.
The aerospace giant Lockheed Martin appears to be at the forefront of the advancement of space nuclear power technologies.
Reportedly, in July, NASA and the U.S. military selected the company to design, build, and launch to test the efficiency of nuclear thermal propulsion. DRACO, or Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations, is the name given to this test mission. This propulsion system could be significantly more efficient than traditional chemical methods.
Originally published on Interesting Engineering : Original article