Sky.com - Russia has announced plans to test a nuclear engine that could help take its cosmonauts to Mars in six weeks.
The potentially huge cut to the current 18-month journey time achieved by conventional chemical rockets would give Russia the lead in the race to the Red Planet.
The test - due to take place two years from now - comes as NASA researches similar technology, with both countries looking to send humans to the planet.
The nuclear-propelled rocket has the same thrust as a chemical rocket, but weighs half as much.
It can also carry larger payloads of cargo, and allows the craft to be manoeuvred mid-flight rather than sticking to a defined trajectory.
Nuclear-powered rockets use an on-board nuclear fission reactor to heat propellant.
Sergey Kirienko, boss of nuclear group Rosatom, told RT: "A nuclear power unit makes it possible to reach Mars in a matter of one to one and a half months, providing capability for manoeuvring and acceleration.
Sergey Kirienko, boss of nuclear group Rosatom, told RT: "A nuclear power unit makes it possible to reach Mars in a matter of one to one and a half months, providing capability for manoeuvring and acceleration.
"Today's engines can only reach Mars in a year and a half, without the possibility of return."
The project costs around £200m, and was originally overseen by the country's space agency RosCosmos.
NASA engineers have been working on a similar project, as the agency eyes a manned mission to the Red Planet in the 2030s.
Uranium would be used to heat liquid hydrogen, creating plasma that would be pushed through a rocket nozzle to create thrust.
The project costs around £200m, and was originally overseen by the country's space agency RosCosmos.
NASA engineers have been working on a similar project, as the agency eyes a manned mission to the Red Planet in the 2030s.
Uranium would be used to heat liquid hydrogen, creating plasma that would be pushed through a rocket nozzle to create thrust.
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