Part 9/10:
Had the nuclear thermal engines reached operational maturity and been tested in space, the future of space travel could have unfolded much differently. With Mars missions planned, the ambitions of the 1970s included not only human presence on Mars but also permanent lunar bases and deep-space probes to the outer planets.
Today, our efforts continue to evolve as we revisit these nuclear propulsion concepts, reminiscent of the challenges and aspirations first laid out by pioneers like Wernher Von Braun. Modern endeavors aim to test nuclear thermal engines once again, reigniting hopes that the missions to Mars can become a reality.