European Space Agency to Expand Use of Nuclear Technology for Future Space Missions

The European Space Agency (ESA) is shifting its long-standing policy by consolidating activities under a new nuclear space coordinator to develop and utilize nuclear technology for future missions. This strategic change aims to enable longer-term missions to the Moon, Mars, and more distant celestial bodies, where solar energy is insufficient. Historically, the ESA has avoided nuclear power in space, unlike the US, China, and Russia.