Under the Artemis program, NASA chose three companies to design a small nuclear reactor capable of operating on the Moon. If such a device sees the light of day, its implications in the field of space conquest will be immense.
A lunar nuclear fission reactor
The objective of the American space agency, which is working in partnership with the Department of Energy on this project, is to develop a system based on nuclear fission with a power production capacity of 40 kilowatts, or the equivalent to a full charge of the entry-level Nissan Leaf electric vehicle. However, the reactor would be able to produce this continuously, and NASA wants it to be able to do so for at least ten years.
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“ Relatively small and lightweight compared to other power systems, fission systems are reliable and could provide continuous power regardless of location, available sunlight, and other natural environmental conditions. “, details NASA in A press release. Not to be confused with nuclear fusion, which makes it possible to reproduce the conditions found in the hearts of stars, on which many researchers are still working, nuclear fission is already used by humanity in nuclear power plants. nuclear.
NASA has been thinking about such a system for at least fourteen years, and hopes that the concept it chooses can be tested on our satellite by the end of the decade.
Who are the three winners?
The space agency has chosen the concept of three different companies, and will grant each of them a sum of 5 million dollars for its design.
The first company is Lockheed Martin, which has also been selected by the US Department of Defense to develop a nuclear-powered spacecraft. Lockheed Martin is a firm accustomed to the space sector with a lot of experience, it is also the world’s leading defense and security company. She is also at the origin of the Orion capsule in which the astronauts of the Artemis program will be transported, and she participated in the design of the various rovers sent by NASA to Mars. The company will partner with BWXT and Creare for the development of the nuclear reactor.
The second firm selected by NASA is Westinghouse, and it will be in partnership with Aerojet Rocketdyne. Acquired by Toshiba in 2006, Westinghouse specializes in the design and manufacture of nuclear fuel assemblies, as well as in the development and construction of new nuclear power plants.
The latest company to benefit from a contract with NASA is IX, a joint venture between Intuitive Machines and X-Energy. Unlike its two competitors, IX is made up of young firms, they were founded in 2013 and 2009 respectively. Intuitive Machines specializes in new lunar economies and has already established other contracts with NASA as part of the Artemis program . X-Energy is an engineering and design company for nuclear reactors and fuels. IX will collaborate with Boeing and Maxar.
Artist’s impression of the Lunar Gateway station, which will be in lunar orbit and in which astronauts will stay. constantly. Image: NASA
The importance of such technology
As a reminder, the Artemis program plans to return humans to the Moon, but also to build a permanent base there which would be constantly occupied by astronauts. With one or more nuclear reactors, energy would no longer be a problem for long and distant space travel, this breakthrough could also allow us to take great steps forward in the conquest of Mars. Furthermore, the technology could also lead to important discoveries for nuclear propulsion systems, key to possible deep space exploration.
“ The Phase 1 awards will allow NASA to obtain critical information from industry that may lead to the joint development of a complete flight-certified fission power system. Surface fission power technologies will also help NASA mature nuclear propulsion systems that use reactors to produce power. These systems could be used for deep space exploration missions “, explains NASA in its press release.
Extending over many years, the Artemis program should begin very soon and allow humanity to achieve incredible scientific advances. In addition to the potential ability to generate energy in space, this program should also hatch the first GPS system outside Earth, which will allow astronauts to locate themselves on the Moon as they do on our planet. .