Rolls-Royce to develop nuclear reactor to power UK base on the Moon
By Jacqueline Howard in London with wiresThe UK's Space Agency (UKSA) has commissioned Rolls-Royce to develop nuclear reactors that could power a base on the Moon.
Key points:
- Rolls Royce says it aims to have a reactor ready to send to the Moon by 2028
- The company is also behind the nuclear systems on AUKUS submarines
- The UK is further investing in research into construction materials made from Moon soil
Rolls-Royce was awarded £2.9 million ($5.26 million) to fund research into developing nuclear power that would operate in the desolate, zero-gravity environment.
The company's research centres around the concept of a micro-reactor, a portable power source that could operate in any environment.
The lunar modular reactor would power space missions, as well as support humans living and working on the Moon.
"This innovative research by Rolls-Royce could lay the groundwork for powering continuous human presence on the Moon, while enhancing the wider UK space sector, creating jobs and generating further investment," said UKSA chief executive Dr Paul Bate.
UK Science Minister George Freeman said, "Space exploration is the ultimate laboratory for so many of the transformational technologies we need on Earth: from materials to robotics, nutrition, clean-tech and much more.
"As we prepare to see humans return to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, we are backing exciting research like this lunar modular reactor with Rolls-Royce to pioneer new power sources for a lunar base."
Rolls Royce said it plans to have a reactor ready to send to the Moon before 2030.
The company, best known to the average person for high-end cars, also operates in air and sea technologies.
Rolls-Royce will be fitting the newly announced Australian AUKUS submarines with nuclear propulsion systems.
Earlier this week, the UK government moved to reclass nuclear power as an 'environmentally sustainable' power source.
Britain has a number of ageing nuclear power stations, with all but one set to be decommissioned by 2028.
The change in classification would make it easier to green-light new developments to modernise the UK's power base.
A week of new space technologies
On Tuesday, the UK government awarded funding to Open Universities researchers to develop construction material out of resources on the Moon.
The concept being pursued by scientists involves melting down the soils that naturally make up the Moon's surface and 3D printing the substance into a concrete-like substance that can be built with.
NASA on Wednesday unveiled the first prototype for a newly designed next-generation spacesuit.
Named the "Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit," or AxEMU for short, the new suits are more streamlined and flexible than the old Apollo get-ups, with greater range of motion and variability in size and fit.
They are designed to fit a broad range of potential wearers, accommodating at least 90 per cent of the US male and female population, NASA said. They also will incorporate advances in life-support systems, pressure garments and avionics.
The precise look of the suits, however, remained a closely guarded trade secret. Those on display came with an outer layer that was charcoal grey with dashes of orange and blue and Axiom's logo on the chest — intended to obscure Axiom's proprietary outer fabric design.
But the company said the suits to be worn on the lunar south pole by astronauts will be white because that is the best colour to reflect the harsh sunlight on the moon's surface and protect the wearer from extreme heat.
ABC/ Reuters
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