The idea of establishing a colony on Mars has been around for many years. However, competition between countries also reaches other units in our Solar System. The space rivalry between the USA and Russia, which started during the Cold War years, is now much more involved.
We see space missions launched by China in recent years, and satellites of India and the United Arab Emirates. However, NASA (US Aviation and Space Agency) does not seem happy about this situation. US space agency officials announced that they want to put humans on Mars before China.
Nuclear-powered rocket needed for Mars colony
NASA officials said the United States should invest in nuclear-powered spacecraft if it wants to beat its geopolitical rivals on the Red Planet. According to the news of United Press International, officials recently met at the Housing Science, Space and Technology meeting.
(Photo: NASA)
NASA administrators addressed deputies on the subject of the colony of Mars. They urged deputies to raise funds to research and develop nuclear-powered rockets. If these rockets are developed, it will be possible for humans to reach the Red Planet in just 3 to 4 months. That’s half the time required for conventional, chemical-propelled rockets.
Bhavya Lal, NASA’s senior adviser on Budget and Finance, said: “Our strategic competitors, including China, include nuclear power and propulsion to fulfill their ambitions for sustained human presence on the Moon, as well as Mars and deep space science missions. It invests aggressively in a wide range of space technologies, including The US needs to act quickly to remain competitive and a leader in the global space community. ”
China says “something”
These statements by NASA administrators came after some work by China in the past weeks. This, of course, cannot be a coincidence. It seems that NASA officials want to hurry up and not lose their seat. Because recently, China allegedly conducted a hypersonic nuclear capable missile test.
(Photo: Joe Marino/UPI)
This attempt by China surprised the US authorities. Because the USA and NASA have a condescending view of other countries’ space studies. But in the past, Russia’s Sputnik satellite has shocked the United States. NASA is worried that China is next. Meanwhile, Chinese officials denied the hypersonic nuclear missile claims.
Congress and NASA have stated that they want to take humans to Mars by 2033. But the chairman of the Space Nuclear Propulsion Technologies Committee of the Academies of Sciences, Dr. Roger Myer gave a realistic explanation. Dr. Myer said manned Mars travel probably won’t be possible until 2033.
However, Chinese authorities also want to send taikonauts to Mars in 2033. Bhavya Lal said that if China continues to invest in nuclear propulsion, it will achieve its target.
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