Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations
 Representation of the rocket | |||||||||||
| Function | Reusable orbital launcher | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin | ||||||||||
| Country of origin | United States | ||||||||||
| Launch history | |||||||||||
| Status | In development | ||||||||||
| First flight | 2027 (planned) | ||||||||||
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The Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) is an under-development launch vehicle by Lockheed Martin in partnership with BWX Technologies as part of a DARPA program to be demonstrated in space in 2027.[1][2] The experimental vehicle is planned to be reusable and will utilize next-generation nuclear thermal propulsion technology and low-enriched uranium.[1][2][3] with the U.S. Space Force to provide the launch.[4] In 2023, NASA joined the DARPA program in developing the nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) to carry astronaut crews to deep-space destinations like Mars.[3] DRACO will be the world's first in-orbit demonstration of a NTR engine.[5]
History[edit]
Utilizing nuclear energy for space travel reportedly has been discussed since the 1950s. Industry experts such as Freeman Dyson and Ted Taylor through their involvement in Project Orion aimed to create an early demonstration of the technology. Ultimately, the project received backing from Wernher von Braun, and reached the test flight stage of development, the project ended early due to environmental concerns.[6]
Development[edit]
Tabitha Dodson, DARPA program manager for DRACO says: “Unlike today’s chemical systems, which have reached a limit in how far they can evolve, nuclear technologies are theorized to evolve to systems such as fusion and beyond,” she says. “Spacecraft evolved to be maneuvered and powered by nuclear reactors will enable humanity to go farther, with a higher chance of survival and success for any mission type.”[7]
In 2021, DARPA selected three space companies for Phase 1 of the DRACO program, with the following responsibilities:[8]
- General Dynamics: Design of the nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) reactor including a blueprint for a propulsion subsystem
- Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin: design of the spacecraft, including the fission reactor which would use a special high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU).[9][10]
In July 2023, DARPA and NASA announced the $499 million award to Lockheed Martin and BWX Technologies for Phases 2 and 3 to design, build and demonstrate the experimental NTR for the 2027 launch.[11][12] Phase 2 involves a test of the NTR engine without nuclear fuel and Phase 3 includes assembly of the fueled NTR with the stage, environmental testing, and space launch to conduct experiments on the NTR and its reactor.[13]
According to Lockheed, there are considerable efficiency and time gains from the nuclear thermal propulsion.[14] NASA believes the much higher efficiency will be two to three times more than chemical propulsion,[4] and the nuclear thermal rocket will cut the journey time to Mars in half.[15]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Mike Wall (26 July 2023). "NASA, DARPA to launch nuclear rocket to orbit by early 2026". Space.com. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Lockheed Martin Selected to Develop Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft". Media - Lockheed Martin. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ a b "NASA has sights set on Mars with help from a nuclear rocket engine". NBC News. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b Foust, Jeff (26 July 2023). "NASA and DARPA select Lockheed Martin to develop DRACO nuclear propulsion demo". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "BWXT to begin work on cislunar nuclear rocket engine and fuel". World Nuclear News. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Nuclear Pulse Propulsion: Gateway to the Stars". www.ans.org. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "NASA, DARPA Partner with Industry on Mars Rocket Engine - NASA". 26 July 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ Howell, Elizabeth (20 April 2021). "US military picks 3 companies to test nuclear propulsion in cislunar space". space.com. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Nuclear-powered spacecraft: why dreams of atomic rockets are back on". Physics World. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ Berger, Eric (26 July 2023). "The US government is taking a serious step toward space-based nuclear propulsion". Ars Technica. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ Hitchens, Theresa (26 July 2023). "DARPA, NASA tap Lockheed Martin to design, build DRACO nuclear rocket for deep space missions". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ Davenport, Christian (27 July 2023). "NASA, Pentagon award contract to build nuclear-powered rocket engine". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO)". darpa.mil. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "(Nu)clear the Way: The Future of Nuclear Propulsion is Here". Lockheed Martin. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ Chang, Kenneth (26 July 2023). "NASA Seeks a Nuclear-Powered Rocket to Get to Mars in Half the Time". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 10 May 2024.