DARPA, NASA Detail Space Nuclear Rocket Test Plan

DRACO

The complete DRACO vehicle is designed to fit within a standard National Security Space Launch vehicle payload fairing.

Credit: Lockheed Martin Concept
Half a century after the last U.S. space nuclear thermal propulsion effort was abruptly canceled, the awarding of a joint DARPA/NASA demonstration program to Lockheed Martin has raised hopes of testing a nuclear-powered rocket in space no later than 2027. Under an agreement announced July 26, the...

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