NASA is continuing the development of its Space Reactor-1 (SR-1) Freedom spacecraft, which will be the first nuclear-powered vehicle to travel beyond Earth orbit, heading to Mars. This mission, announced at the “Ignition” event, aims to demonstrate nuclear electric propulsion in deep space.
The core of the project is the nuclear power module, located at the end of the spacecraft’s arm. It includes a reactor generating heat through nuclear fission, coupled with an energy conversion system that transforms this heat into electricity to power the spacecraft’s systems and its electric propulsion.
The company Sierra Lobo Inc. will supply the closed Brayton cycle conversion system, essential for converting thermal energy into electrical power. This work is part of the Space Flight Systems Development and Operations III contract, awarded in 2024, which supports the design, development, testing, and operations of space hardware at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
The reactor is designed and developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory. NASA and the Department apply rigorous safety standards, including inter-agency reviews, continuous oversight by a NASA safety officer, and a design process focused on fault tolerance and nuclear safety.
Furthermore, the reactor will remain inactive throughout the entire Earth orbit phase. The launch is scheduled for late 2028, aiming to deliver the SkyFall scientific mission, which includes a team of three Mars helicopters derived from Ingen technology.
