Why is the United States racing to build a nuclear reactor on the surface of the moon

“There is now the certainty of politics we have never had,” she added. “Finally, not another, the private sector is not only interested in using space nuclear energy, but they are interested in providing nuclear energy to space.” both of them Emerging companies Freight airlines such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin are looking to use nuclear energy in space. “There are a lot of pieces of puzzles that met in a good way, where we can already move.”

NASA’s Artemis program is supposed to lay the basis for a permanent base in the southern pole and the leading technologies to move to Mars, though this Its future is sure. Regardless, the energy needs of any limited missions in strange environments such as the moon, where nights fluctuate in the two weeks and temperatures significantly, and require a fixed and abundant strength.

Lal says: “Lunar gravity and thermal swing are brutal,” Lal says. “Day temperatures are about 100 degrees Celsius. The night is close to absolute zero. All electronics should be radiation stiffness. Although I will be honest, the biggest risk is not technique. The biggest risks are to maintain this momentum and the goal of the task.”

Enter China, which is also planning the moon base in the Antarctic. This region is rich in resources and water ice, which makes it an attractive location for exploration and a possible permanent presence, and China is in talks with Russia to partnership in building a reactor there by 2035. These developments surrounded NASA officials, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Energy to reach the race.

“This can be done, because we do very well here in the United States when we have a strong opponent, and we had no one for 40 years,” says Mohamed Jenk, a professor of nuclear engineering and founding director of the Institute of Space Studies and Nuclear Energy at New Mexico University. “But a lot of things need to happen in order to happen.”

How does all this work?

Duffy directed some details about the design of the planned reactor, which is guessing anyone who may appear in the coming months.

“For more progress in the American competition and lead the lunar surface in the framework of the ARTEMIS campaign, NASA is moving quickly to develop energy development on the fission surface.” “This critical technology will support the moon’s exploration, the generation of high -energy energy on Mars, and to enhance our national security in space. Among the efforts made to develop, NASA will appoint a new executive official to manage this work, as well as issue a request for a proposal for the industry within 60 days. NASA will issue additional details about this proposal in the future.”

The guidance is chanting results Modern report On satellite nuclear energy, it was composed by Lal and Aerospace Roger Myers, which included the “Go Big or Go Home” option to build a 100 kW reactor on the moon by 2030.

Lal said in an e -mail to follow to WIRED, that this design is 100 kW “almost equivalent to sending a couple of African elephants from the moon with a foldable umbrella in the size of the basketball field, except that the elephants produce heat and that the umbrella is not for shadows, it is to empty heat in space,” as Lal said in an email to continue to WIRED.