AI is making spacecraft propulsion more efficient – and could even lead to nuclear-powered rockets

By: Marcos Fernandez Tous, University of North Dakota; Preeti Nair, University of North Dakota; Sai Susmitha Guddanti, University of North Dakota, and Sreejith Vidhyadharan Nair, University of North Dakota, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: November 24, 2025

Words: 1,360

Last Updated: 18 hours, 19 minutes ago

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By Marcos Fernandez Tous, University of North Dakota; Preeti Nair, University of North Dakota; Sai Susmitha Guddanti, University of North Dakota, and Sreejith Vidhyadharan Nair, University of North Dakota

Every year, companies and space agencies launch hundreds of rockets into space – and that number is set to grow dramatically with ambitious missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond. But these dreams hinge on one critical challenge: propulsion – the methods used to push rockets …

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