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NASA ‘nuclear engines’ could provide power to the first humans on Mars

Posted in nuclear energy, space, transportation

NASA is set to begin testing a radical ‘nuclear engine’ that could provide power for astronauts on the Martian surface.

Dubbed the ‘Kilopower’ it would use a uranium rector the size of a toilet roll to create heat.

A high efficiency Stirling engine would then convert this to electricity, in a system that works in a similar way to a car engine.


NASA’s Kilopower engines will use a uranium rector the size of a toilet roll to create heat, then a high efficiency Stirling engine would convert this to electricity.

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