In March 2026, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced SR-1 Freedom, a $2.1 billion nuclear electric rocket mission to Mars launching in late 2028 with three miniature helicopters. The spacecraft uses a nuclear reactor connected to ion engines for propulsion, taking about a year to reach Mars with minimal thrust equivalent to a stick of butter's weight.
NASA announced SR-1 Freedom in March 2026, a $2.1 billion nuclear electric rocket designed to reach Mars in late 2028 carrying three miniature helicopters. The spacecraft uses a small fission reactor to power ion engines for slow but fuel-efficient propulsion, with a complex design including radiation shielding, heat radiators, and solar panels.