Did you forget about the goal of putting fission power on the lunar surface? NASA didn’t.
Establishing a power source on the Moon that can provide continuous, always-on electricity is a key enabling technology to make the jump from short- to long-term missions on the lunar surface. Solar power is good until the lunar night hits, and when that happens, astronauts on the lunar surface will need to turn to something else.
To keep the lights on through the night, NASA is exploring putting a nuclear fission reactor on the Moon’s surface. The idea has been around for years, but the agency appointed new executive leadership for the Fission Surface Power Project last year—and committed to seeing it through.
- Three $5M contracts were awarded in 2022 to Lockheed Martin, Westinghouse Electric, and a joint venture between Intuitive Machines and X-energy to explore fission surface power architectures.
- The designs had to be able to operate for a decade without refueling, weigh under six metric tons, and produce 40 kW each of electricity.
- Phase 2 awards have not yet been made.
Now, in his first weeks as NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman has confirmed that the program is a high priority for the space agency.
“Under President Trump’s national space policy, America is committed to returning to the Moon, building the infrastructure to stay, and making the investments required for the next giant leap to Mars and beyond,” Isaacman said in a release. “Achieving this future requires harnessing nuclear power.”
Hand in hand: NASA is working with the DoE to identify potential technologies and providers of fission surface power. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has been a key proponent of nuclear technology since taking office last year, and the nuclear energy sector has risen to meet demand signals coming out of the energy agency. A suite of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump last year have also given shape to the goal of reinvigorating the nuclear energy sector in the US.
The partnership between NASA and the DoE on nuclear fission surface power is meant to move quickly, putting tech on the Moon by 2030. The agencies signed a new MoU to collaborate on the program this week.
“History shows that when American science and innovation come together, from the Manhattan Project to the Apollo Mission, our nation leads the world to reach new frontiers once thought impossible,” Wright said. “This agreement continues that legacy.”
