Transit IV-A

NASA

After 60 Years, Nuclear Power for Spaceflight is Still Tried and True

Editor’s Note: Originally published on June 21, 2021. Six decades after the launch of the first nuclear-powered space mission, Transit IV-A, NASA is embarking on a bold future of human exploration and scientific discovery. This future builds on a proud history of safely launching and operating nuclear-powered missions in space. “Nuclear power has opened the solar system to exploration, allowing us…