NASA’s Space Reactor-1 (SR-1 Freedom) will be humanity’s first fission-powered spacecraft to travel outside Earth’s orbit, with progress now underway on its critical nuclear power module. Announced during NASA’s “Ignition” event, the mission will demonstrate nuclear electric propulsion in deep space, traveling to Mars to deliver a science payload called SkyFall. To expedite development, NASA and its partners have mutually agreed to key contract actions that will advance the SR-1 Freedom mission.
“These contract actions not only reduce technical risk and help us maintain momentum toward our 2028 launch, but they also strengthen collaboration across our partners,” said Steve Sinacore, SR-1 Freedom program director. “These actions keep SR-1 Freedom on track and ensure we’re building the strongest possible foundation for NASA’s first fission-powered voyage beyond Earth orbit while developing technology extensible to a vibrant space nuclear future.”
The spacecraft’s nuclear power module, located at the end of the spacecraft’s boom, consists of a reactor that generates heat through nuclear fission and a power conversion system that converts that heat into electricity to power systems and electric propulsion.
Sierra Lobo Inc. will provide the nuclear power module’s closed Brayton cycle power conversion system, which converts thermal energy from its fission reactor into electrical power needed for SR-1 Freedom’s nuclear electric propulsion demonstration. The work will be conducted under the Space Flight Systems Development and Operations Contract III, awarded in 2024, to support spaceflight hardware design, development, testing, and operations at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
The power conversion system will be integrated with the fission reactor, which is being designed and developed by the Department of Energy (DOE)’s Idaho National Laboratory to complete the nuclear power module. NASA and DOE incorporate thorough safety standards throughout the design and development of the SR-1 Freedom spacecraft, including interagency safety reviews, continuous oversight by a NASA chief safety officer, regulatory compliance, and a rigorous safety design process focusing on hazards, failure tolerance, and nuclear safety. In addition, the nuclear reactor portion of SR-1 Freedom will remain inactive until the spacecraft leaves Earth orbit.
Launching in late 2028, SR-1 Freedom will deliver the SkyFall science mission, a team of three Mars helicopters evolved from the Ingenuity design, to collect scientific data, demonstrate exploration zones, and identify potential water sources. The mission will pave the way for deep space exploration and next-generation fission-powered systems designed to keep NASA’s Moon Base operating through periods of darkness and in locations where solar power alone is not sufficient.
