Nuclear power could dramatically increase the length of lunar missions.
British luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce has received funding from the UK Space Agency to develop a nuclear reactor that could serve as a long-term power source for lunar bases. Guardian informed of. The UK Space Agency has given Rolls-Royce a fresh £2.9 million to build the reactor, following a £249,000 study last year.
According to experts, nuclear power could dramatically increase the length of lunar missions.
in March 17 Press releaseRolls-Royce and the UK Space Agency said the micro-reactor program “will help develop the technology that will provide the power necessary for humans to live and work on the Moon.”
Rolls-Royce scientists and engineers are working on the micro-reactor program to develop technology that will provide the power humans need to live and work on the Moon. All space missions depend on a power source to support systems for communications, life-support and science experiments. Nuclear power has the potential to dramatically increase the duration of future lunar missions and their scientific value,” the release said.
For the project, Rolls-Royce will collaborate with a number of organizations including the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Center and Nuclear AMRC, Bangor University and the University of Oxford.
The government said the deal would boost Britain’s space industry and create skilled jobs.
“We are supporting the technology and capabilities to support ambitious space exploration missions and drive growth of the sector across the UK. The development of space nuclear power provides a unique opportunity to support innovative technologies and develop our nuclear, science and space engineering skills base.
This innovative research by Rolls-Royce could lay the groundwork for empowering a continued human presence on the Moon, while boosting the wider UK space sector, creating jobs and generating further investment,” said Paul Bate, said the chief executive of the UK Space Agency.
The company hopes to have a demonstration model for a modular micro-reactor ready to be delivered to the Moon by 2029.
Talking about the project, Science Minister George Freeman told BBC“Space exploration is the ultimate laboratory for many of the transformative technologies we need here on Earth: from materials to robotics, nutrition, cleantech and more.”
The lunar base comes in handy as humans prepare to return to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.