NASA has announced the completion of the initial phase of its ground-breaking plan to construct a small nuclear reactor on the Moon for generating electricity, marking a significant milestone in the agency's quest for sustainable lunar exploration.
The project, spearheaded by NASA's Glenn Research Center, aims to deploy a compact electricity-generating nuclear reactor on the lunar surface, paving the way for future missions and establishing long-term outposts on Earth's celestial neighbour, according to a report published in The Indian Express.
The initiative gained further momentum in 2022 when NASA awarded three $5 million contracts to private companies tasked with designing the reactor and its associated systems, estimating costs, and devising a development timeline.
Trudy Kortes, program director for Technology Demonstration Missions at NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, emphasized the critical role of a lunar nuclear power source in enabling sustained human presence on the Moon. She highlighted the challenges posed by the lunar night, which lasts approximately 14 Earth days, underscoring the necessity for a power solution independent of solar energy.
Unlike solar power, which faces limitations during the extended lunar night, a nuclear reactor offers continuous power generation regardless of environmental conditions. This capability holds immense promise for supporting prolonged exploration and scientific endeavours on the Moon.
The prospect of deploying a nuclear reactor in permanently shadowed regions, potentially harbouring water ice, represents a significant advancement in lunar power generation technology. By harnessing nuclear energy, NASA aims to overcome the inherent constraints of solar power and establish a reliable energy source for sustained lunar exploration.