On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy spoke to Congress. He had a vision for the future of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
“First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal . . . of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth. . . . Secondly, an additional 23 million dollars . . . will accelerate development of the Rover nuclear rocket. This gives promise of some day providing a means for even more exciting and ambitious exploration of space, perhaps beyond the moon, perhaps to the very end of the solar system itself.”
The Rover nuclear-powered rocket was developed and tested. But it never took astronauts to space. Budget restrictions led to the program being canceled in late 1972. Even so, the Rover still plays a role today. Scientists and engineers build upon its advances as they develop the technology and fuels of the future.
