Nuclear-research manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center Michael Houts believes that a small amount of uranium-235 can be used to efficiently power rockets in space. This invention would revolutionize space exploration. If small enough fission reactors could be created, they could power long-lasting space missions to the surface of other planets. Nuclear propulsion is twice as efficient as chemical rockets and can travel faster which would help decrease the amount of space radiation given to astronauts. However, in 2005 the project was cancelled so NASA could focus on another mission to the moon. But a recent generator was created that is lighter and more efficient than any other created so far. The Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator used the natural heat from the decay of plutonium instead of fission for power. With this new generator, two space missions are being proposed. One the Saturn's moon Titan and the other to hop from comet to comet.
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