Overview

• Researchers detailed the Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket in Acta Astronautica and have started a prototype effort led by PhD student Spencer Christian.
• The team says the system could enable about six-month one-way Mars trips, shortening round trips to roughly 420 days.
• Reports cite a potential specific impulse near 1,800 seconds, exceeding both chemical engines and earlier nuclear thermal concepts.
• The design can run on propellants such as ammonia, methane, hydrazine, or propane, suggesting future in-space refueling options.
• Engineers flag startup, shutdown, and fuel-loss stability as key hurdles, and separate reports of NASA support and a five-year operational target remain unconfirmed across outlets.