DRACO

Why in news?

• NASA in collaboration with the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking a nuclear propulsion system that could potentially cut down the travel time to Mars by half.
• This ambitious initiative, known as the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) and the launch is scheduled for late 2025 or early 2026

About DRACO:

• The DRACO project is offering the prospect of shorter travel times between celestial bodies and improved fuel efficiency.
• Central to DRACO's vision is a nuclear reactor that utilizes the energy derived from the fission of uranium atoms.

Potential:

• DRACO hold the potential to revolutionize space travel in numerous ways:
  • Acceleration and Speed:
    • Unlike traditional rocket engines that rely on chemical reactions (fuel like hydrogen or methane with oxygen), nuclear reactions generate far more energy, enabling the spacecraft to accelerate continuously throughout its journey.
    • This acceleration could significantly shorten travel times to distant destinations like Mars.
  • Enhanced Fuel Efficiency:
    • Nuclear propulsion systems yield greater fuel efficiency, reducing the need to carry excessive propellant.
    • This advantage can drastically lower the duration of interplanetary voyages.
  • Minimized Exposure:
    • Expedited travel times translate to reduced exposure of astronauts to the harsh conditions of deep space.
    • The potential risks associated with extended space travel, such as radiation exposure and isolation, could be mitigated through quicker journeys.
  • Military Applications:
    • Beyond its application in space exploration, DARPA's involvement hints at the potential for nuclear propulsion to facilitate rapid maneuvers of military satellites in Earth's orbit.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO), recently seen in news, is associated with:

(a) NASA

(b) ISRO

(c) European Space Agency

(d) Roscosmos

Answer