On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy spoke to Congress about 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 carried astronauts to space. The program was cancelled late in 1972 due to cost concerns. Nevertheless, today’s scientists and engineers build upon the advances of the Rover as they develop the technology and fuels of the future.
