The news of the last few weeks in the Chinese media, which was later deleted, revealed that the “mini nuclear reactor” with which they were working is ready. In short, the engine to travel to Mars and Neptune could already be operational.
In the last days, different media assured that the reactor passed a great evaluation of performance . This test was organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Asian country.
Curiously, the news was deleted, but theorists assured that this is proof that the Engine to travel to space in record time is ready.
The Chinese “super” engine to travel to space is ready
The news did not detail the exact use China wants to put to the reactor. However, these nuclear propulsion systems are the same ones that other countries have studied to bypass the limitations of solar panels and chemical fuels during space travel. Especially, to travel to other planets.
At the end of the year, the Chinese government had already mentioned this reactor and assured that the prototype phase had already been completed . In addition, he claimed that the engineers had already built some of the essential pieces .
The South China Morning Post said the mini-reactor project started in 2019 with government funding.
As the Hong Kong newspaper reported at the time, now confirmed by the Chinese media, the reactor can reach a megawatt of power . Something far superior to what similar projects arrive.
That’s where the theorists come in and China’s supposed plan to explore Neptune, Triton , its largest moon, and the other satellites and rings. This with a 10 kilowatt nuclear powered ship.
Ion thrusters are extremely efficient and require very little fuel.
The system uses a magnetic field that limits the movement of an element’s electrons and ionizes them to accelerate them and produce a force that propels the aircraft .
reach other planets
To get the speed needed to reach Mars in just over a month, Chinese engineers wanted to build a 200-megawatt booster. A fairly ambitious goal, especially if you take into account that the normal power of this type of motor is between 1 and 7 kilowatts.
The United States is also working on creating new nuclear-powered spacecraft. And both DARPA, as well as NASA and the Department of Defense, develop different concepts .
However, if it is true that China already has its nuclear mini-reactor ready, it would overtake the powers in the new space race .
One of the most important goals, considering that last year, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences anonymously said the following:
“Nuclear energy is the most hopeful solution. Other nations have launched some ambitious plans, but China cannot afford the cost of losing this race.”
Everything seems to indicate that China is ahead and could be the first nation to reach another planet. What would this mean for Earth?
