Summary:
- NASA is developing the first nuclear-powered spacecraft that can travel to other planets in our solar system. This new spacecraft, called Kilopower, will use a small nuclear reactor to generate electricity and power its systems.
- The Kilopower project is a collaboration between NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy. It is designed to provide reliable and long-lasting power for future robotic and human exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
- The Voyager probes, launched in the 1970s, used radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) to power their systems. However, Kilopower is a more advanced nuclear reactor that can produce more power and last longer than the RTGs used on Voyager.