Mars in Months: China's Game-Changing Nuclear Engine

As nations race to colonize Mars, China’s development of a nuclear-powered engine promises to cut travel times drastically.

China's latest technological feat involves a lithium-cooled nuclear reactor designed to dramatically shorten Mars travel to just three months. Developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this 'shrinkable' fission reactor can expand to the size of a 20-story building in space, yet compress into a container for launch.

It represents a stark contrast to traditional spacecraft, which rely on slower fossil fuels and take at least seven months for the same journey. This reactor’s design not only promises rapid interplanetary travel but also positions China as a formidable competitor in the space race, potentially overtaking projects like SpaceX’s Starship.

With the reactor's ability to provide a decade of power and its innovative cooling system, this development might just reshape the future of space exploration. But as we venture faster and further into space, how will international regulations evolve to keep pace with such rapid technological advancements?

Read the full article on South China Morning Post.

----