NASA’s $500 Million Rocket Gamble Is Worth It
Investing in nuclear propulsion could give the US a wider lead in a new space-race era.
A nuclear-powered space deserves renewed investment.
Photographer: Gregg Newton/AFPWhat’s a government space agency like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration supposed to do if private companies like SpaceX get all the spacefaring glory? One option is to double down on investments in leading-edge advancements that may not pay off for years. Super-fast and maneuverable nuclear-powered rocket engines are one such technology. Last month, NASA, partnering with the Department of Defense, gave Lockheed Martin Corp. nearly $500 million to build and test one by 2027.
Without this collaboration, two things could be in jeopardy: NASA’s dream of putting boots down in more parts of the solar system and the US’s upper hand in outer-space warfare.