The US government is taking a serious step toward space-based nuclear propulsion
The US government is taking a serious step toward space-based nuclear propulsion
https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/07/nasa-seeks-to-launch-a-nuclear-powered-rocket-engine-in-four-years/#p3
"NASA is looking to go to Mars with this system."
Four years from now, if all goes well, a nuclear-powered rocket engine will launch into space for the first time. The rocket itself will be conventional, but the payload boosted into orbit will be a different matter.