Nuclear spacecraft to Mars
Could nuclear power be the answer to deep-space missions?
Nuclear power could lead to a new generation of deep-space vessels © Getty
Space vehicles have traditionally been fuelled by chemicals, but such fuel has to be carried in bulky tanks, which are cumbersome and not always efficient.
Technology such as solar panels can provide a source of power for satellites and space stations, but the Sun’s energy is not strong enough to power craft that venture further from its glow and head into the deepest recesses of the Solar System. A new era of cosmic exploration could be on the horizon after a British study was launched into nuclear-powered space travel.