The US space agency NASA intends to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon, and the project has just finished its first phase, which involved designing the fission reactor. ‘Power’ is the primary objective of NASA’s forthcoming Artemis program, in which the space agency is developing means to deliver continuous power to upcoming lunar bases.
The first phase
The first phase of the project began in 2022, with three major companies—Lockheed Martin of Bethesda, MD, Westinghouse in Cranberry, PA, and IX of Houston, TX—submitting reactor designs.
The design was intended to include power conversion, heat rejection, and power management and distribution.
NASA plans to build a nuclear reactor that can operate for at least a decade without human intervention. If the idea works well on the Moon, it might be utilized to power similar bases on Mars in the future decades.
“A demonstration of a nuclear power source on the Moon is required to show that it is a safe, clean, reliable option,” said Trudy Kortes, program director, of Technology Demonstration Missions within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Nuclear power against solar electricity
Surviving and thriving on the lunar surface requires overcoming numerous major hurdles, one of which is finding a sustainable power source. While solar energy is a dependable source, the long intervals of darkness throughout the lunar night make it useless for continuous power generation.
To address this issue, fission reactors can be considered a practical solution. These nuclear reactors can be strategically placed in areas where sunlight is sparse or absent, such as regions with extended shadows or craters. Surprisingly, these areas frequently coincide with the presence of ice reservoirs, which provide an additional resource for supporting life and aiding exploration.
Unlike solar power, which has a day-night cycle, nuclear reactors can operate continuously regardless of sunshine availability. This consistent power supply is crucial, especially during the lunar night, which lasts about 14 Earth days. Thus, incorporating fission reactors into lunar infrastructure is critical to assuring the success and durability of human endeavors on the Moon.
“The lunar night is challenging from a technical perspective, so having a source of power such as this nuclear reactor, which operates independent of the Sun, is an enabling option for long-term exploration and science efforts on the Moon,” said Kortes.