Space Luisa Fernanda
Space, astronomy, rockets and the physics of it all.
Friday, October 16, 2026 · UTC
Launches & Rockets

NASA to launch SR-1 Freedom to Mars in late 2028, first fission-powered spacecraft

The $2 billion mission will carry the first U.S. space reactor since 1965.

Luisa Marconi
Senior Space Correspondent
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NASA expects to launch its SR-1 Freedom spacecraft to Mars in late 2028, making it the first fission-powered interplanetary spacecraft. The mission costs $2 billion and was first announced at NASA's Ignition event in March 2025. [1]