BBC Inside Science The future of space travel
33 snips
Mar 26, 2026 
Caroline Steele, science reporter covering CERN antimatter moves and brain preservation news. Dr Harry Cliff, Cambridge particle physicist who traps and studies antiprotons. Dr Hannah Sargeant, planetary scientist working on nuclear electric propulsion for lunar and Mars missions. They discuss nuclear-powered space travel, how reactors drive electric thrusters, and the careful transport and trapping of antimatter.
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Use Chemical Boost Then Switch To Nuclear Drive
- Do use chemical rockets for Earth escape and switch to nuclear electric propulsion once in space.
- Hannah Sargeant noted only enough chemical fuel is needed to leave Earth's gravity before activating the reactor for long burns.
Regulation And Safety Drove Decades Of Delay
- Safety and regulation have been major barriers to deploying reactors in space despite terrestrial naval reactors existing for decades.
- Sargeant emphasized designs focus on sealed systems to prevent dispersion even in launch failures or re-entry scenarios.
Nuclear Power Beats Solar For Heavy Distant Missions
- Solar power becomes impractical farther from the Sun and for heavy human or cargo missions, making nuclear power necessary.
- Sargeant noted Mars rovers use RTGs and bases will need much more power and larger cargo deliveries that nuclear enables.