NASA and the US Department of Energy signed a new memorandum on October 8 that expands nuclear power and propulsion studies in space missions. The agreement, signed by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and Energy Minister Chris Wright, will come into force as of November 1. However, the joint work will extend from research to fuel development, from tests to launch preparation and in-mission operations.
NASA’s official agreement announcement links the new collaboration with the goal of making a reactor to be used on the Moon ready for launch in 2030. On the other hand, the institution states in the same statement that it aims to launch the nuclear-powered spacecraft called SR-1 Freedom in 2028. Therefore, the years specified indicate the institution’s forward-looking long-term working goals, not actual task dates or delivered systems.
In addition, NASA emphasizes the need for constant energy for living spaces, communication systems, rovers and resource use on the Moon. Among the works covered by the agreement is the preparation of small heating units along with a radioisotope generator that will power Dragonfly. In addition, the institution also lists the heater units to be used in ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover as examples of joint work.
Dragonfly will run on radioisotope power system on Titan, far from the Sun
The Dragonfly mission will fly between different surface points on Saturn’s moon Titan, examining chemical processes and habitability conditions. NASA’s Dragonfly mission page targets July 2028 at the earliest for launch and late 2034 for arrival on Titan. However, planned science studies on Titan include collecting measurements and samples from different terrains for approximately 3.3 years.
On the other hand, the eight-rotor vehicle will conduct research in different areas ranging from dune areas to the Selk impact crater. Titan’s dense, largely nitrogenous atmosphere supports the vehicle’s ability to fly to multiple destinations within the same mission. Therefore, mobility also offers the opportunity to compare different surface materials without relying solely on the initial landing zone.
In addition, one day on Titan corresponds to approximately 16 days on Earth, and the mission will proceed according to this rhythm. NASA makes clear in its mission plan that the vehicle could fly to a new destination every Titan day or two. While the flights reach targets several miles away, the vehicle will examine its environment and the surface materials it collects with science instruments at stops.
Additionally, the mission will investigate the history of organic chemistry on Titan while also trying to understand under what conditions life-related processes might develop. This goal does not mean that life on Titan has been declared or that the discovery of life is guaranteed as a result of the mission. The project, carried out by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, is preparing the science instruments that will carry out these measurements together with international teams.