ESA to Expand Nuclear Technology Development for Future Deep Space Missions

The European Space Agency (ESA) is initiating a strategic effort to develop and integrate nuclear technology into its future space missions, appointing a Nuclear Space Coordinator to lead these activities. This move aims to enable longer-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and more distant celestial bodies, where solar energy is insufficient. This represents a shift for ESA, which has historically avoided nuclear power in space, and seeks to catch up with other spacefaring nations in this domain.