The U.S. military has granted Lockheed Martin a contract worth $33.7 million to develop a nuclear-powered spacecraft as part of the Joint Emergent Technology Supplying On-Orbit Nuclear (JETSON) project. This initiative aims to harness nuclear fission technology for space applications, offering various advantages for space travel.
The nuclear-powered spacecraft will employ nuclear fission to power Stirling engines, which will produce between 6 kWe and 20 kWe of electricity. Lockheed Martin asserts that this approach provides four times the power of conventional solar arrays without the dependency on constant sunlight. The concept is based on lessons learned from NASA’s Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY) experiment, which explored nuclear power as a means of providing electricity for future lunar and Martian outposts.
Barry Miles, JETSON program manager and principal investigator at Lockheed Martin, highlighted the significance of nuclear fission development for space applications. He stated, “Nuclear fission development for space applications is key to introducing technologies that could dramatically change how we move and explore in the vastness of space.”
The fission engine will remain inert during launch and will only activate once the JETSON spacecraft is in a safe, non-decaying Earth orbit. The generated nuclear energy will be used to power Hall-effect thrusters, similar to the ones utilized on Lockheed Martin’s LM2100 satellites. This power source will not only facilitate acceleration but also support the spacecraft’s onboard systems and payloads, offering a comprehensive energy solution.
This project marks the first time the U.S. military has launched a nuclear reactor into space since 1965 when the SNAP-10A experimental nuclear-powered satellite was launched. Lockheed Martin anticipates that the nuclear-powered spacecraft will enhance maneuver and power capabilities, shaping the future of space force operations. The project is currently in the preliminary design review stage.
In addition to Lockheed Martin’s involvement, Intuitive Machines in Houston received $9.4 million to develop a spacecraft using a compact radioisotope power system, while Westinghouse Government Services in South Carolina received funds to explore high-power fission systems for future spacecraft.
