A new spacecraft called SR-1 will use nuclear power in space. It will use a special type of engine called a plasma thruster. The thrusters will not use solar power but will get energy from a nuclear reactor.
The leader of the project, Isaacman, said they want to improve space travel. They do not want to ask for lots of money again after spending $20 billion on past projects that did not work. They will use parts they already have and a reactor that is mostly built.
NASA did not say how much the SR-1 mission will cost. If they show that nuclear power works, they may ask for more funds in the future.
The SR-1 mission is planned to launch with the next Mars mission in December 2028. They have a strict schedule for this, but there are challenges. They need to finish designing by June and start building in early 2028. If they miss this launch, they must wait until 2031 for another chance.
NASA will lead the mission, but it needs help from other agencies to launch radioactive fuel into space safely.
