NASA is looking for a compact nuclear power plant for use on the moon
Even after several decades, mankind has not given up on the moon. The US space agency NASA is planning another mission to the celestial body within the next few decades, but this time the stay there will be significantly longer. In addition to the many challenges that such a mission brings with it, the reliable and continuous power supply on the moon is also a problem.
Because so far there is no infrastructure at all. That is why NASA is now tendering the development of a nuclear reactor, which should be available by 2030 and be brought to the moon. The nuclear fission plant is to be produced and assembled on earth and then brought to the celestial body.
Therefore certain properties are not negotiable. The reactor will run on uranium and will also have a cooling system. Although freezing temperatures predominate on the moon, these can rise to 121 degrees. The output should be 40 kilowatts throughout.
The dimensions are also given. The reactor may have a maximum width of 3.66 meters and a length of 5.49 meters. The transport to the mod happens in a cylindrical capsule with the same dimensions. Furthermore, the structure should be built very stable, when starting on earth and landing on the moon, sometimes stronger forces act on the construction.
The last condition is weight. The power plant may weigh a maximum of 6,600 kilograms, only then can a successful moon mission succeed. So if anyone of you is interested and has plans for such a power plant, they can send them to NASA by mid-February 2022 (don’t forget to track your shipment).
Otherwise, it remains to be seen whether such a project can even be managed in the long term. On the one hand there are the immense costs that a moon mission causes, on the other hand there are of course international interests, because the moon does not belong to any particular country. So making territorial claims could destabilize peace on earth.
Via Gizmodo
