Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
A revolutionary nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) system is being developed to cut Mars travel time, using ionized gases and a nuclear reactor to generate efficient, long-duration thrust.
Credit: NASA
NASA’s MARVL project, led by heat transfer engineer Amanda Stark, aims to solve a key NEP issue—heat dissipation—by designing modular radiator panels that can be assembled in space.
Credit: NASA
Instead of forcing a massive radiator into a single launch fairing, MARVL breaks it into smaller, flexible components, allowing robotic assembly in orbit for optimized spacecraft design.
Credit: NASA
NASA Langley’s in-space assembly technology will deploy robotic systems to construct MARVL’s radiators, ensuring seamless integration of liquid metal cooling channels in zero gravity.
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If built conventionally, the NEP’s radiator array would be as large as a football field, making MARVL’s modular approach a game-changer for compact rocket launches.
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NASA Langley’s Julia Cline explains that MARVL redefines spacecraft design by prioritizing in-space assembly first, expanding possibilities for future deep-space propulsion systems.
Credit: NASA
MARVL is collaborating with Boyd Lancaster, Inc., along with NASA centers at Glenn and Kennedy, to refine its thermal management system for practical spaceflight applications.
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Funded under NASA’s Early Career Initiative, MARVL has two years to advance its concept, targeting a small-scale ground demonstration before future deep-space missions.
“The reason I wanted to work at NASA was for projects like this,” a mentor told Stark, reflecting the excitement surrounding a project that could redefine space exploration.