ESA Appoints Nuclear Space Coordinator to Advance Long-Term Missions

The European Space Agency (ESA) has appointed a nuclear space coordinator to consolidate its activities in nuclear technology. This strategic move aims to enable longer-term missions to the Moon, Mars, and more distant celestial bodies, marking a shift from ESA's previous avoidance of nuclear technology in space. The coordinator will develop a targeted strategy for this field, which has historically seen the US, China, and Russia utilize radioactive power for missions where solar energy is insufficient.