Researchers have reported new progress in developing a liquid uranium-fueled rocket engine, a Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket (CNTR). “The Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket (CNTR) is a ...

Take tanks of liquid hydrogen and use turbopumps to feed this hydrogen through a nuclear reactor core to heat it up to very ... 2020, DARPA entered the chat and said, “We want a nuclear rocket ...

More information: Dale Thomas et al, Addressing challenges to engineering feasibility of the centrifugal nuclear thermal rocket, Acta Astronautica (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.05.007 ...

Earth's inner core is a solid ball of mostly iron and nickel.Measuring about 1,520 miles (2,440 kilometers), this inner core spins inside the outer core, an ocean of molten iron and nickel about ...

The $499 million mission will be the first test in orbit of a nuclear spacecraft, NASA announced. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it ...

April 25 (UPI) --Scientists have confirmed that Mars' core is liquid as seismic wave measurements have given valuable first-time clues about how the Red Planet was formed.The findings, published ...

The basic idea is straightforward: A nuclear reactor rapidly heats up a propellant, probably liquid hydrogen, and then this gas expands and is passed out a nozzle, creating thrust.

NASA and DARPA are working on a nuclear-powered rocket that could go to Mars The technology would also have significant national security implications February 3, 2023 More than 2 years ago ...

Whereas a traditional rocket works on burning fuel to generate thrust, a nuclear rocket works like a miniaturized nuclear plant. A liquid propellant like hydrogen moves through a reactor core.

With a nuclear-powered rocket engine, it could have flown as fast as 6,500 mph to 8,500 mph. And speed is what NASA is looking for to shorten the travel time to Mars for crewed missions.