More than sixty years after the U.S. began serious studies into nuclear propulsion for space travel, NASA is taking the first steps on a new path to develop nuclear-powered engines for crewed missions to Mars by the end of the next decade.

The agency is reviewing industry responses to the first phase of a plan with the Energy Department to mature a prototype nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) reactor and engine design for use in space.

Access exclusive subscriber-onlycoverage as new materials and fuel technology advance, NASA gets serious again about nuclear space propulsion for missions to Mars and beyond.

Plus every subscriber has access to our eBook library, featuring updates in supersonics, manned and unmanned innovation in aviation, the renaissance of high-speed air travel, the legends behind the world's first wide-body jet, emerging technologies making their way into the MRO market, technological developments for new satellites & the next generation of space start-ups and the most pressing issues facing military pilots today.

Subscribe today and receive all of this plus exclusive online access at aviationweek.com