Exploration architecture
Crewed Deep-Space Propulsion
Getting a crew to Mars quickly enough to limit their exposure to weightlessness and radiation. Chemical rockets are proven but heavy on propellant; nuclear-thermal and nuclear-electric propulsion promise shorter transits, while solar-electric tugs can pre-position cargo ahead of the crew.
Systems, programs & concepts
Knowledge connections
- Associated withNuclear Thermal Propulsion
- Associated withThe Deep-Space Transit Habitat
- Associated withNuclear Electric Propulsion
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.