Nuclear Propulsion for Fast Crewed Transits to Mars and Beyond: NTP, NEP, Advantages and Challenges

With NASA inviting proposals for a 100 kW nuclear reactor on the Moon’s surface by 2030, I examine the idea of using nuclear reactors for propulsion for fast transits to Mars and the outer solar system.

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00:00 Intro
00:57 Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP)
02:59 Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP)
05:07 Propulsion Follows Power
06:03 Human Exploration of Mars and Ceres: Mission Architecture
07:17 Megawatt Nuclear Reactors are Needed for Crewed Missions to the Outer Planets
08:47 Advantages of Nuclear Powered Spacecraft
09:46 Challenges with Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft
10:27 Radiation Shielding
12:33 Upcoming Events
13:15 Outro

Sources:

Space Nuclear Power Corporation Joins Forces with USSF and University of Michigan for Advanced Nuclear Propulsion: https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Space_Nuclear_Power_Corporation_Joins_Forces_with_USSF_and_University_of_Michigan_for_Advanced_Nuclear_Propulsion_999.html

Space Nukes: https://www.spacenukes.com

General Atomics tests advanced nuclear thermal propulsion fuel at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center: https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/General_Atomics_tests_advanced_nuclear_thermal_propulsion_fuel_at_NASA_Marshall_Space_Flight_Center_999.html

Advancing deep space travel with nuclear propulsion: https://phys.org/news/2025-06-advancing-deep-space-nuclear-propulsion.html

Nuclear-Powered Propulsion Systems for Multiplanetary and Deep Space Exploration [PDF]: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2025/pdf/2368.pdf

Conceptual Design of a Multiplanetary Mission Architecture for Human Exploration of Mars and Ceres [PDF]: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2025/pdf/2429.pdf

Weighing the Future: Strategic Options for U.S. Space Nuclear Leadership [PDF]: https://inl.gov/content/uploads/2023/07/strategic-options-space-nuclear-leadership.pdf