"NASA Completes First Phase of Lunar Nuclear Reactor Project"

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Source: Space.com
"NASA Completes First Phase of Lunar Nuclear Reactor Project"
Photo: Space.com
TL;DR Summary

NASA has completed the design phase of a project to develop a small, electricity-generating nuclear fission reactor for use on the moon as part of its Artemis program. The Fission Surface Power Project aims to provide safe, clean, and reliable energy sources for sustained human presence on the lunar surface. Contracts were awarded to three companies for the initial phase, and NASA plans to refine the project's direction for Phase 2, which involves final reactor design for a lunar demonstration. The target date for delivering a reactor to the launch pad is in the early 2030s, and the agency has set requirements for a 40-kilowatt reactor using low-enriched uranium. Additionally, NASA is also working on other nuclear plans for space, including a nuclear-powered spacecraft and more efficient power converters.

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