NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Glenn Research Center jointly published detailed mission architecture documents Monday outlining the operational parameters of the agency's first nuclear-powered interplanetary mission, set for launch in 2028. The release follows last week's formal announcement of the programme and responds to intense interest from the scientific community about how fission surface power will integrate with rotary-wing aircraft in Mars's thin atmosphere.
The documents confirm that a scaled derivative of the Kilopower fission reactor, designated KRUSTY-M, will provide approximately 10 kilowatts of continuous electrical output on the Martian surface — enough to recharge a pair of helicopter platforms between sorties and power a central science station simultaneously. Engineers at Glenn Research Center noted this represents a four-fold improvement in sustained power availability over any previous Mars surface asset, including the Perseverance rover's multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator.
The twin helicopters, provisionally named Zephyr-A and Zephyr-B and built on an enlarged Ingenuity heritage design by AeroVironment under JPL contract, are designed for a 15-kilometre operational radius from the lander. Monday's briefing confirmed they will carry ground-penetrating radar and a miniaturised Raman spectrometer, instruments selected specifically to probe subsurface ice deposits in the Hellas Planitia landing zone candidate.
Senior mission scientist Dr. Tara Raj at JPL told reporters the nuclear power source fundamentally changes the mission risk profile. 'Every previous surface mission has been hostage to dust storms and solar angles,' she said. 'Fission removes that variable entirely. We can operate through a global dust event without interruption.' The agency expects to downselect to a final landing site by the end of 2026 following analysis of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter high-resolution imagery.
The announcement drew immediate commentary from the planetary science community. The European Space Agency confirmed it is in preliminary discussions to contribute a miniaturised atmospheric chemistry instrument to the payload, which would make the mission the first jointly nuclear-powered US-European Mars surface operation. A formal ESA partnership decision is expected at the agency's ministerial council meeting in late 2026. Congress is meanwhile being briefed this week on the mission's $4.2 billion cost estimate, with the House Science Committee scheduled to hold a hearing on nuclear space propulsion and surface power funding on Tuesday.