Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a leading technology company in the defense, national security, and space domains, announced a $33.6 million contract award to design, build, and deliver the power conversion system for NASA’s Space Reactor-1 Freedom. Kratos will be executing this work as a subcontractor to Sierra Lobo, Inc., under their NASA SpaceDOC III contract. Targeted for launch in 2028, SR-1 Freedom will be the first nuclear fission reactor-powered interplanetary spacecraft, designed to travel beyond Earth’s orbit to Mars, demonstrate advanced nuclear electric propulsion (NEP), and successfully deliver the SkyFall payload.
Under this subcontract, Kratos will provide a compact, space-qualified closed Brayton cycle power conversion system. This crucial component serves as the mechanical bridge between SR-1 Freedom’s onboard fission reactor and the spacecraft’s power distribution and electric propulsion subsystems. It converts the thermal energy generated by the reactor into the vital electrical power required to drive SR-1’s propulsion thrusters and sustain all critical spacecraft operations.
Nuclear electric propulsion utilizes a fission-based, nuclear power module to generate electricity, powering highly efficient electric thrusters rather than relying solely on conventional chemical thrusters. By accelerating charged particles to create a gentle but relentless thrust, NEP allows the spacecraft to gradually build immense velocity. Because they can operate continuously for months or years, NEP-equipped spacecraft can reach Mars utilizing significantly less propellant than traditional chemically propelled spacecraft. This unprecedented efficiency drastically reduces fuel requirements, freeing up critical mass for scientific instruments, cargo, and future crew-support equipment.
“Being selected to power SR-1 Freedom is a generational honor for Kratos,” said Stacey Rock, President of Kratos Turbine Technologies Division. “SR-1 is the spacecraft that turns space nuclear propulsion from concept into reality; it is the vehicle that will help answer whether America leads the third space race or watches it from the sidelines. By delivering the power conversion heart of SR-1 Freedom, Kratos is helping NASA give birth to the ‘Nuclear NASA’ that will open the outer solar system, shorten the path to Mars, and strengthen our national security in space.”
NASA has positioned the SR-1 Freedom mission as a cornerstone in a broader space nuclear initiative. The mission aims to launch the first U.S. space reactor since 1965, paving the way for a transformative era of deep space exploration. SR-1 Freedom is strategically structured to mitigate development risks and cultivate the necessary industrial base for future deep-space operations and will facilitate follow-on concepts like Lunar Reactor-1 (LR-1), which is envisioned as a sun-independent power source for NASA’s upcoming Moon Base efforts. The SR-1 Freedom contract adds to Kratos’ expanding portfolio of advanced propulsion, power, and hypersonics work. This milestone reinforces the company's broader corporate strategy of leveraging strategic internal investments to support critical national security and next-generation space programs.