Revolutionary Space Mission: Nuclear Reactor Launches After 50-Year Hiatus

The US military, along with Lockheed Martin and other partners, is developing a spacecraft powered by a nuclear reactor in the Joint Emergent Technology Supplying On-Orbit Nuclear (JETSON) project. Inspired by NASA's KRUSTY project, the goal is to use nuclear fission to power Stirling engines, providing four times more power than conventional solar arrays. Safety measures include activating the fission engine only after leaving Earth's reach. Lockheed Martin is also developing a nuclear thermal propulsion engine for cislunar operations. Nuclear reactors are seen as a critical solution for future space missions, providing self-contained power for deep space exploration.