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NASA’s SR-1 Freedom Advances with Progress on Nuclear Power Module

NASA

By: Gary Daines

20 October 2026 at 19:11

2 min read

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Digital illustration of the Space Reactor-1 (SR-1) Freedom spacecraft in orbit near Mars. The planet's red terrain fills the left half of the frame. On the right, the spacecraft is oriented horizontally, showcasing its central Power and Propulsion Element bus flanked by two tall, illuminated golden Roll-Out Solar Arrays. An elongated open-truss boom extends forward from the bus, ending at the cylindrical nuclear fission reactor and power conversion module.

Space Reactor-1 Freedom will be the first spacecraft ever to demonstrate fission power beyond Earth’s orbit, traveling to Mars to deliver a science payload called SkyFall.

NASA/Alberto Bertolin

Destined for Mars and beyond, NASA’s Space Reactor-1 (SR-1) Freedom will be humanity’s first fission-powered spacecraft to travel outside Earth’s orbit. Announced during NASA’s “Ignition” event, this mission will demonstrate nuclear electric propulsion in deep space, and progress is underway on its key element: the nuclear power module. To expedite development of the spacecraft, 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.”

Digital illustration of the Space Reactor-1 Freedom (SR-1) spacecraft in deep space with the planet Mars filling the background. The spacecraft boom structure extends toward the planet, showing its power conversion assembly and solar panel, with a targeting graphic pointing to the fission reactor at its tip labeled 'FISSION REACTOR.'

Space Reactor-1 Freedom’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.

NASA/Alberto Bertolin

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.

For information about SR-1 Freedom, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission/space-reactor-1-freedom/