Mars Just Got Closer: How NASA's SR-1 Freedom Could Rewrite Space Travel - CNET

Our gifting experts are obsessively searching for holiday gifts that are unique, thoughtful and suitable for any budget. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. The spacecraft will deliver NASA's Skyfall payload, which is a group of helicopters designed to find subsurface water on Mars. Mars, shown here in a photo illustration, may be closer than ever thanks to a new generation of spacecraft. NASA is sending a nuclear-powered spacecraft to Mars. Alongside Tuesday’s announcement of its new Ignition program, which features a planned Moon base and a successor to the International Space Station, the agency revealed the SR-1 Freedom, set to launch in 2028 as the first nuclear-powered craft to leave low Earth orbit. First, SR-1 Freedom will act as a tech demonstration to show that a nuclear-powered spacecraft is a viable option. If it works, it opens the possibility of deeper space exploration by addressing the range limitations imposed by solar power and liquid fuel. SR-1 Freedom is also responsible for delivering the Skyfall payload to Mars. Skyfall is a team