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Nuclear thermal propulsion systems use uranium fission to generate power. When a neutron collides with uranium-235, it creates an unstable isotope (uranium-236), which then splits, releasing additional energy. This process can generate about ten times the power density seen in traditional reactors. The high thrust created by NTP systems allows for quicker acceleration, drastically cutting travel time to destinations like Mars.
Success with NTP could drastically change interplanetary exploration, offering reduced travel times that enhance astronaut safety by mitigating long-term exposure to cosmic radiation.