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NASA Unveils Plan for 1st Nuclear-Powered Interplanetary Spacecraft

Set for a launch in 2028, SR-1 Freedom will lay the foundation for nuclear-powered space travel.
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NASA Unveils Plan for 1st Nuclear-Powered Interplanetary Spacecraft
Concept art of NASA’s SR-1 Freedom nuclear-powered spacecraft unveiled during an event called “Ignition” at NASA headquarters in Washington on March 24, 2026. Screenshot/Courtesy of NASA
T.J. Muscaro
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The first-ever nuclear-powered spacecraft built for interplanetary travel will set off on a mission to Mars in 2028.

The Space Reactor‑1 Freedom (SR-1 Freedom) project was unveiled in Washington on March 24. NASA leadership said it is the first step toward nuclear power on the moon and for exploratory missions farther out in space, where solar panels and traditional chemical propulsion would be less and less effective.

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T.J. Muscaro
T.J. Muscaro
Author
T.J. Muscaro is an award-winning reporter and NASA Correspondent for The Epoch Times, covering the Artemis program, Space Force, and other public and private ambitions within the growing space industry. Based in Tampa, Florida, he also covers stories of extreme weather and disaster relief, as well as various matters of national and international politics.