DRACO program

August 7, 2023

NASA and US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are working on Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO)
DRACO program aims to create a Nuclear Powered Space propulsion system .
NASA aims to launch a nuclear-powered spacecraft, known as DRACO, into Earth’s orbit either by late 2025 or early 2026.
The spacecraft, under construction by Lockheed Martin, will serve as a testbed for this groundbreaking technology.
DRACO is expected to provide a treasure trove of critical data that will usher in a new age of space exploration.
Working
- A nuclear thermal rocket (NTR), the underpinning technology of the DRACO, boasts a thrust-to-weight ratio approximately 10,000 times greater than electric propulsion and two-to-five times more efficiency than in-space chemical propulsion.
- The technology utilizes heat from a nuclear powered fission reactor to heat a hydrogen propellant, which then expands through a nozzle to provide thrust, propelling the spacecraft forward.
Advantages
- Nuclear propulsion is a key capability on NASA’s roadmap to send astronauts to Mars.
- A nuclear-powered rocket would enable faster trips to the Red Planet, making missions less complex and safer for crew.
- This type of engine requires significantly less propellant than chemical rockets, so missions would be able to carry additional scientific equipment.