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NASA, DOE partner to develop nuclear power source for the Moon

As preparations continue in Florida for the launch of the Artemis II mission as soon as next week, NASA announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a new power source for future Artemis missions on the Moon.

The agencies are studying small nuclear fission reactors that could generate tens to hundreds of kilowatts of electricity. This level of power would support life-support systems, scientific instruments, communications equipment, and systems that could extract oxygen or fuel from lunar soil and ice.

Generating power on the Moon is difficult. Apollo missions were carefully scheduled to land during daylight, and crews stayed on the surface for no more than about three days. In contrast, a lunar night lasts 14 Earth days, during which solar panels produce no power.

NASA and DOE to collaborate on lunar nuclear reactor development

WASHINGTON — NASA and the Department of Energy have agreed to work together on development of nuclear reactors for the moon as industry awaits the release of a final call for proposals.

NASA and DOE announced Jan. 13 that they had signed a memorandum of understanding related to NASA’s Fission Surface Power (FSP) program. Under the program, NASA will work with industry through one or more funded Space Act Agreements to develop a nuclear reactor capable of operating on the moon.

NASA announced last summer that it would pursue FSP as a public-private partnership. According to a memo signed July 31 by the agency’s acting administrator, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the system is required to produce at least 100 kilowatts of power and be ready for launch by the end of 2029.

The 2030 Race for a Moon Reactor

The US’s federally funded space program has been struggling of late. With the recent cancellation of the Mars Sample Return mission, and mass layoffs / resignations taking place at NASA, the general sense of a lack of morale at the agency is palpable, even from a distance. Jared Isaacman, the billionaire software entrepreneur and rocket enthusiast who was recently confirmed as NASA administrator during his second confirmation hearing, hopes to change that, and one of his priorities is pushing the Artemis missions for a permanent human presence on the Moon. However, at least one big technical hurdle remains before being able to do so – how to power a base during the two week long lunar night. A recent press release describes how NASA, and another branch of the federal government (the Department of Energy – DoE) hope to solve that problem – with a lunar-ready nuclear fission reactor.

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