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Researchers at Ohio State University have introduced a new nuclear propulsion design that could slash the time it takes to reach Mars. The system, called the centrifugal nuclear thermal rocket (CNTR), uses liquid uranium spinning at high speeds to heat propellant more efficiently than chemical or earlier nuclear designs. If successful, it could reduce the current six- to nine-month trip to Mars to as little as three months.
In standard nuclear thermal rockets, a solid reactor core heats hydrogen gas, which then expands and provides thrust. CNTR modifies this by melting uranium into liquid form and using centrifugal force to keep it stable. Hydrogen propellant is passed through bubbles in the liquid fuel, transferring heat directly.
This method could achieve a specific impulse of around 1,800 seconds, compared to about 900 for conventional nuclear rockets and 450 for chemical engines.
Reducing travel time is key for human missions to Mars. Long stays in space increase exposure to radiation and health issues from microgravity, such as bone loss. A faster transit window would lower those risks and make round trips possible in about one year instead of three.
The Ohio State team is led by associate professor Dean Wang, working with PhD student Spencer Christian and other researchers. Their work has attracted partial funding from NASA, which has renewed interest in nuclear propulsion as part of its long-term plans for human exploration beyond Earth orbit.
CNTR also offers flexibility in fuel choice. Researchers suggest methane, which may be harvested from asteroids or Martian resources, could serve as propellant, reducing the need to carry large reserves from Earth.
The engineering challenges remain steep. Liquid uranium reaches about 5,000 Kelvin, and the system must contain it without leaks while resisting corrosion at extreme heat. The proposed reactor includes 37 fuel elements and 12 control drums to manage the nuclear reaction. Testing the concept in the lab could take up to five years, focusing heavily on safety for crewed missions.
If CNTR works, its reach goes beyond Mars. Faster nuclear propulsion could make missions to Saturn or Neptune more practical for robotic probes. Current spacecraft, like the Voyager probes, took years to cross the outer solar system. A system like CNTR could shorten those timelines and open new opportunities to study distant moons and planets.
The next step for the Ohio State team is to conduct ground-based demonstrations that replicate the extreme conditions of spaceflight. If successful, the concept may progress toward in-space testing. While still in development, the design represents one of the most advanced attempts yet to make nuclear propulsion practical for human and robotic missions across the solar system.
Source: Addressing challenges to engineering feasibility of the centrifugal nuclear thermal rocket
