SR-1 Freedom, a nuclear-powered spacecraft being developed at NASA Glenn, is slated to launch by the end of 2028 as the agency pushes nuclear systems for lunar bases and deeper-space missions.
Nuclear power is central because it can generate electricity through long lunar nights, and Glenn says the spacecraft could travel much farther than traditional chemical rockets.
Mars is the first proving ground: SR-1 Freedom is planned to send helicopters to scan the planet, with successful operation intended to validate reactor technology before a lunar surface version is deployed.
A 2030 launch is scheduled for LR-1, the moon reactor, as U.S. officials accelerate fission-space development partly in response to China and Russia's stated goal of placing a lunar reactor by the mid-2030s.
The work is also drawing companies to Northeast Ohio, reinforcing Glenn's role as a growing hub in the broader U.S. push for nuclear power in Moon, Mars and defense missions.