Nasa to test nuclear rockets that could fly astronauts to Mars in record time

Project, in concert with US government agency Darpa, aims to develop pioneering propulsion system for space travel

Nasa has unveiled plans to test nuclear-powered rockets that would fly astronauts to Mars.

The agency has partnered with the US government’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) to demonstrate a nuclear thermal rocket engine in space as soon as 2027, it announced on Tuesday.