When you hear the word DRACO, you may think of the Harry Potter series or even severe Athenians, but NASA wants you to think of speedy travel to Mars. DRACO, or Demonstration for Rocket to Agile Cislunar Operations, is NASA’s plan to develop a nuclear thermal rocket engine with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Defense contractor Lockheed Martin was recently tapped to lead this effort.
Such an engine would shorten the journey to Mars, thereby exposing astronauts to less risk from solar energetic particles and galactic cosmic rays as well as lessening the amount of supplies needed for the trip. The rocket engine could also be used initially for shorter trips to the Moon.
Dr. Stefanie Tompkins, director, DARPA, stated earlier:
The space domain is critical to modern commerce, scientific discovery, and national security. The ability to accomplish leap-ahead advances in space technology through the DRACO nuclear thermal rocket program will be essential for more efficiently and quickly transporting material to the Moon and eventually, people to Mars.
You can read more about this new rocket approach and the parties involved at this NASA link.
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