Rolls-Royce Designs Micro-Reactor To Safely Transport Humans To Mars One Day

With the race to Mars heating up, Rolls-Royce throws its hat into the ring with a micro-reactor suited to cut down on deep-space travel time.
 
The journey to the Red Planet has proven to be long and arduous, not just in terms of how long it will take to reach its surface but also in terms of feasibility. However, scientists believe that finding a way to get there in as little time as possible will significantly aid astronauts and keep them safe from the risks of deep-space travel.
 
So far, researchers have been looking at nuclear fission to power up such missions. The reactor can reduce travel time from eight to nine months to just 45 days, thanks to atomic propulsion. This would ultimately save astronauts from prolonged exposure to radiation.
 
Rolls-Royce believes it might be able to help with a micro-reactor, first announced in 2021 as part of an agreement signed with the UK Space Agency. 

A Rolls-Royce Micro-Reactor is designed to use an inherently safe and extremely robust fuel form. Each uranium particle is encapsulated in multiple protective layers that act as a containment system, allowing it to withstand extreme conditions.https://t.co/OOc9kBGXDx pic.twitter.com/wkXmZgzhrs

— Rolls-Royce (@RollsRoyce) January 27, 2023

The team is currently looking and testing safe and robust fuel forms that can withstand the harsh environment of space.
 
“Each uranium particle is encapsulated in multiple protective layers that act as a containment system, allowing it to withstand extreme conditions,” Rolls-Royce explained in its tweet.
 
Of course, traveling to Mars is one thing, but there is also no viable way for humans to set foot on its surface just yet. Though, it has to be said that such experiments and advancements could put humanity just one step closer to the Red Planet.
 
 
 
[via Interesting Engineering and Universe Today, cover image via Rolls-Royce]