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Nuclear-electric rocket propulsion could cut Mars round-trips down to a few months

Ad Astra Rocket Company has spent over two decades developing the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR), a highly efficient electric propulsion system. VASIMR operates by using...

Under a new partnership, the two companies will collaborate to integrate SpaceNukes' nuclear technology with Ad Astra's propulsion system, potentially achieving an optimal balance of efficiency and thrust. VASIMR is highly scalable with larger power outputs, and Ad Astra emphasizes that its fundamental physics make it "propellant-agnostic," meaning it can operate using a variety of cost-effective propellants. By combining high-power nuclear reactors with high-efficiency plasma engines, the two companies aim to develop a propulsion system that could significantly reduce transit times for future robotic and human exploration missions.

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