NASA's Mars Exploration Program: "What it Takes" | Jet Propulsion Laboratory

NASA's Mars Exploration Program: "What it Takes" | Jet Propulsion Laboratory

NASA is seeking to advance nuclear electric propulsion in space and to boost its Mars exploration efforts. With Space Reactor-1 (SR-1) Freedom, planned for launch in 2028, NASA will demonstrate nuclear electric propulsion and deliver SkyFall helicopters to Mars. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, these capabilities will help support future missions to Mars and beyond.

The Skyfall scientific payload will include three Ingenuity-class helicopters equipped with cameras, ground-penetrating radar, and radios to survey potential human landing sites, search for subsurface water, and relay navigation data for future landers.

Learn more about the SR-1 Freedom nuclear electric propulsion project:

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/america-underway-in-space-on-nuclear-power.pdf

For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit: mars.nasa.gov

Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Duration: 2 minutes, 31 seconds
Release Date: March 26, 2026

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