FASTER? PLEASE! ‘Liquid Uranium Rocket Cuts Mars Trip to 6 Months’: Ohio State Scientists Achieve 1,800-Second Nuclear Engine Performance. “In a groundbreaking pursuit to advance space exploration, The Ohio State University is pioneering the development of a novel propulsion system that could revolutionize travel to Mars and beyond. Known as the centrifugal nuclear thermal rocket (CNTR), this innovative technology aims to enhance rocket performance while significantly reducing the risks associated with engine operations. By utilizing liquid uranium to heat the rocket propellant directly, the CNTR system promises to double the efficiency of conventional nuclear engines. As the race to explore the solar system intensifies, this advancement could play a pivotal role in realizing human missions to distant celestial bodies.”