NASA is building the first nuclear reactor-powered interplanetary spacecraft. How will it work?

SR-1 Freedom Mars flyby: NASA By Robin George Andrews, Published by MIT Technology Review, 14 April 2026 Just before Artemis II began its historic slingshot around the moon, Jared Isaacman, the recently confirmed NASA administrator, made a flurry of announcements from the agency’s headquarters in Washington, DC. He said the

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Is COPUOS at a turning point? Governing space in a new era

A meeting of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). Credit: United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs By Frederick Jenet, David Schuman, Cecilia I. Silberberg, Danica Vallone and Paul Wunderl, Published by Space News, 14 April 2026 The 63rd Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee

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NASA announces ‘near‑impossible’ space plans, including $20B moon base and humanity’s first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft

A concept for a later phase of NASA's proposed lunar base. Credit: NASA By Patrick Pester, Published by Live Science, 25 March 2026 NASA's Gateway lunar space station won't launch next year in new changes to the Artemis program, which include ramping up development of a $20 billion moon base

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Deep space, dim objects: Why asteroid mining caught the Space Force’s eye

Asteroids contain mind-boggling amounts of valuable metals – like 16 Psyche, seen here, which holds massive reserves of iron. (NASA/JPL-Caltech) By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 5 February 2026 A niche corner of the commercial space sector is attracting attention from United States national security planners, not because of

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UK lunar reactor dream on hold as Rolls-Royce struggles to find launch support

Nuclear Space Micro-Reactor Concept Model. By Mrigakshi Dixit, Published by Interesting Engineering, 2 February 2026 The UK Space Agency’s ambitious dream of establishing a nuclear-powered Moon base has dimmed.  Reports suggest that Rolls-Royce has placed its lunar micro-reactor development on indefinite hold after government funding expired. Despite receiving £9m in

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U.S. Space Command to bring commercial firms into classified wargame on nuclear threats in space

A military exercise known as Southern Star integrates across space and cyber domains. Credit: U.S. Space Command By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 28 January 2026 Upcoming tabletop exercise will examine response to weapons of mass destruction in orbit ORLANDO, Fla. — U.S. Space Command will, for the first

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