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Experts are turning to nuclear power to revolutionize energy generation on the moon, thanks to its remarkable reliability.
Humanity has long been interested in the vast possibilities of space exploration. For decades, ever since Neil Armstrong first set foot on the lunar surface, many have envisioned a base there. A moon base would allow us to conduct long-term scientific research and could serve as a staging ground for future missions to Mars and beyond.
However, among many other complexities, powering a base has proven to be a challenge. The moon has a very thin atmosphere and faces long periods of darkness rendering solar power unreliable.
Hence, experts have come up with a brilliant solution that many countries have shown an interest in – nuclear power.
In 2022, NASA awarded $5 million each to three companies to develop initial designs for a 40-kilowatt class fission surface power system. These companies include IX, Lockheed Martin, and Westinghouse.
The goal of the initial designs NASA chose is to demonstrate the feasibility of using nuclear power on the moon and, if chosen, the companies are to continue development next year.
IX is a joint venture between Intuitive Machines and X-Energy. The collaboration aims to develop a small, portable nuclear reactor for space applications. The reactor is based on the company’s proprietary TRISO-X fuel, which is designed to be intrinsically safe and can withstand temperatures four times greater than conventional nuclear fuel.
The reactor is also designed to be small and lightweight, making it easier to transport to space and use on the moon or Mars. X-energy is working with Maxar and Boeing on the initial design of the reactor, and they believe that it could be a key part of the lunar Artemis program and future expeditions.
On the other hand, Lockheed Martin is the only industry team engaged in diverse power generation sources, including solar power, nuclear fission power, solar arrays, and cables made from lunar regolith. This makes Lockheed Martin well-positioned to play a leading role in the development of a global lunar power grid.
Westinghouse and Astrobotic have partnered to develop nuclear fission surface power systems for the moon. Westinghouse is a leading nuclear reactor technology company, with the latter having experience in developing lunar landers.
They have also partnered with Aerojet Rocketdyne and their expertise will be essential in the design and development of a propulsion system that can deliver the system to the moon. The combination of their expertise could make it possible to develop a safe, reliable, and efficient nuclear fission surface power system to be used on the moon base.
Early this year, the UK Space Agency said that it would back up Rolls-Royce on its research for the Micro Reactor program. The UKSA mentioned that it would provide Β£2.9 million to fund the project that was said to push the delivery of βan initial demonstration of a UK lunar modular nuclear reactorβ.
Rolls-Royce is set to collaborate with the University of Oxford, University of Bangor, University of Brighton, University of Sheffieldβs Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), and Nuclear AMRC among others. They have set plans to send the reactor to the moon by 2029.
