A group of Chinese scientists has conducted tests on a 1.5-megawatt “retractable” fission nuclear engine, according to reports in the South China Morning Post (SCMP). This new reactor could enable China to build a nuclear-powered spacecraft with the potential to make trips to Mars and return successfully.
Increasing the chances of sustainable travel to Mars.
The reactor is designed to expand from a container-sized volume to a structure as large as a 20-story building, all for the purpose of powering a spacecraft. Developed in collaboration with research institutions across the country, this breakthrough could become a rival to SpaceX’s highly acclaimed Starship. a rival to SpaceX’s highly acclaimed Starship. .
These tests confirmed that key technological hurdles have been overcome, which would allow the Chinese reactor to be sent into space in a compressed form, and then deployed in a larger structure in space. Once launched into space, the 1.5 megawatt reactor, along with its heat sink, could reach a height equivalent to that of a 20-story building. However, when on the ground, it can be folded into a container-sized volume, weighing less than eight tons.
The reactor design system facilitates loading and launching by rockets. In addition, the researchers claim that it can operate stably in the hostile environments of space for extended periods of time. According to the team led by Wu Yican of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a nuclear-powered spacecraft could complete a round trip from Earth to Mars in as little as three months.
Successful nuclear engine testing
The Chinese reactor will generate temperatures of up to 2,329 degrees Fahrenheit (1,276 degrees Celsius) by fissioning uranium fuel. This temperature is much higher than most commercial nuclear plants can achieve. The intense heat will cause the liquid states of the inert elements helium and xenon to expand into gases, which will then be used to drive a generator.
This chain reaction will produce fast neutrons that will allow a continuous and efficient supply of energy for at least 10 years, the researchers explained. The secret lies in lithium cooling.
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Source and photo: South China Morning Post
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