Mars could soon become the destination for a spacecraft powered by nuclear energy, as the United States prepares to take its deep-space ambitions beyond conventional rocket technology.




President Donald Trump has announced that Nasa will launch its first-ever nuclear-powered spacecraft to the Red Planet within the next two years, marking a major step in America's push to develop advanced propulsion systems for future space exploration.




Speaking at the UP Summit at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Trump said the mission would be part of his administration's broader ambitions to expand America's presence beyond Earth.




According to a report by Fox News, he said, "Within the next two years, NASA will launch the first-ever nuclear-powered spacecraft to Mars."




For Nasa, the planned Space Reactor-1 (SR-1) Freedom mission will mark an important step towards testing nuclear-electric propulsion beyond Earth's orbit. The spacecraft will use a nuclear reactor to generate electricity for its thrusters and is also expected to carry three Mars helicopters, building on the success of the agency's Ingenuity helicopter.




Trump also linked the Mars mission to his administration's broader ambition of establishing a permanent American presence beyond Earth. He said the US would first return astronauts to the Moon and then work towards establishing a lasting presence on its surface.




He also highlighted his recently issued 'American Declaration of Freedom in Space', which seeks to promote American exploration and settlement beyond Earth.




"Just this week, I issued the American Declaration of Freedom in Space, proclaiming all of space open for American settlement, American civilization, and American freedom," he said.



Nuclear propulsion in space and why it matters




Nuclear propulsion could transform how spacecraft travel through deep space by allowing them to cover greater distances, carry heavier scientific equipment and operate for longer periods.




Unlike conventional chemical rockets, which burn fuel to generate thrust, nuclear-electric propulsion uses energy released through nuclear fission to generate electricity, which then powers electric thrusters. These thrusters accelerate electrically charged propellant to gradually push the spacecraft forward.




According to Nasa, nuclear-electric propulsion produces relatively low thrust compared with conventional rockets but can operate continuously for extended periods while consuming significantly less propellant. This makes it particularly useful for long-duration missions where carrying large quantities of fuel is a major challenge.




The technology could also overcome the limitations of solar power. As spacecraft travel farther from the Sun, sunlight becomes weaker, reducing the effectiveness of solar panels. A nuclear reactor, however, can generate electricity independently of sunlight, allowing spacecraft to operate in distant regions of the solar system.




Nasa sees nuclear propulsion as a key technology for future deep-space exploration , including missions to Mars and destinations beyond it. In January 2026, Nasa official Greg Stover highlighted its potential, saying, "Nuclear propulsion has multiple benefits including speed and endurance that could enable complex deep space missions."