NASA intends to build nuclear reactors on the Moon and Mars.
Monday, November 22, 2021 | Chimniii Desk
Key Highlights
- NASA has issued a request for bids for a "fission surface power system" as part of its Artemis mission to return humans to the Moon and, eventually, Mars.
- According to NASA's plans, astronauts would eventually spend up to two months at a time on the Moon, which will serve as a launching pad for journeys further into the solar system.
- The concern is that a single lunar night can last up to 14 days, making solar power an unreliable supply of energy for a thriving Moon base.
- The space agency and the US Department of Energy stated earlier this year that they were looking for concepts for a nuclear thermal propulsion system that could power future Mars missions.
- Rolls-Royce, a British aerospace corporation, claimed in September that it was working on designs for a nuclear-powered "Moon mining" operation.
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Putting a nuclear reactor on the Moon may sound like a plot line from a Cold War movie from the 1960s, but it may be the only option to keep the astronauts living there alive one day.
NASA has issued a request for bids for a "fission surface power system" as part of its Artemis mission to return humans to the Moon and, eventually, Mars.
According to NASA's plans, astronauts would eventually spend up to two months at a time on the Moon, which will serve as a launching pad for journeys further into the solar system.
The concern is that a single lunar night can last up to 14 days, making solar power an unreliable supply of energy for a thriving Moon base.
"In concert with solar cells, batteries, and fuel cells, fission surface power can supply the power to drive rovers, perform experiments, and exploit the Moon's resources to manufacture water, propellant, and other supplies for life support," NASA explained.
What exactly is NASA looking for?
NASA's request for proposals provides some insight into what a fission reactor on the Moon would look like.
To begin with, it will have to be much smaller than the conventional nuclear reactors that are now used to generate electricity on Earth.
The reactor must fit inside a cylindrical container four metres wide and six metres long, and it cannot weigh more than 6,000 kg.
If the reactor survives the launch and landing, it must be transportable so that it may be moved from its landing site to another location on the Moon, where it will produce at least 40 kilowatts of continuous power for up to ten years.
In addition, NASA's specifications stipulate that the reactor be totally autonomous. According to NASA's tendering materials, it "cannot rely on any external power or robotic support, nor astronaut involvement for system startup, shutdown, operation, or maintenance."
According to NASA, companies headquartered in the United States have until February 19 of next year to submit their proposals.
"Enough energy will be critical for future space exploration," Jim Reuter, associate administrator for NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, stated (STMD).
"I anticipate that fission surface power systems will considerably benefit our plans for power architectures for the Moon and Mars, as well as drive innovation for usage here on Earth."
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What comes next?
NASA has stated that efforts to use nuclear fission in space will not stop at the Moon.
The space agency and the US Department of Energy stated earlier this year that they were looking for concepts for a nuclear thermal propulsion system that could power future Mars missions.
