NASA plans to equip the Moon with a nuclear reactor by 2030, but deciding on the location poses a challenge
NASA is embarking on an ambitious project to establish a nuclear-powered lunar base, marking a significant step towards long-term human presence off Earth. According to NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, the first nuclear mobile reactor is set to be deployed on the Moon's South Pole in 2030.
The reactor will serve as a crucial power source for the construction of a lunar base pad, as well as for the extraction and refinement of lunar resources. This is a critical aspect of NASA's mission, as learning to use local resources is key to sustaining life off Earth, starting with the nearby Moon.
The Artemis campaign, NASA's new lunar exploration programme, will generate larger regolith plumes than the Apollo missions, necessitating protection for prepositioned assets or landing beyond the horizon. To address this, NASA is considering temporary solutions such as using the Moon's natural topography or placing important assets behind large boulders until a custom launch and landing pad is developed.
A launch and landing pad built specifically for the nuclear reactor site will be essential for any site chosen for this project. This process will require significant investment, but the reactor's ability to deliver consistent power through the cold lunar night makes it an indispensable component of the lunar base.
The reactor will also form the power supply for the initial U.S.-led Moon base, paving the way for future missions to Mars where weaker solar energy will necessitate a source of nuclear energy.
NASA's VIPER mission, currently in storage, can be used to investigate on the ground the hottest prospect for water ice identified from orbital data. Scientists suspect permanent shadowed regions on the lunar north and south poles hold water in the form of ice, which could be a valuable resource for future lunar inhabitants.
The process of building a lunar base will require multiple visits and careful planning. NASA must also figure out how to shield the nuclear reactor from spacecraft landings due to the creation of regolith plumes. Landing near pre-positioned assets risks corrosion on surfaces exposed to landing plumes, as demonstrated by the Apollo 12 landing near Surveyor 3.
Clive Neal, a researcher who receives funding from NASA, emphasizes the importance of this project. He states, "The Moon will pave the way for future missions to Mars." With the deployment of the nuclear reactor, NASA is one step closer to establishing a sustainable lunar base and potentially a permanent human presence on the Moon.
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