Rolls-Royce is implementing the Micro-Reactor program, which aims to develop a nuclear reactor on the Moon to provide energy for human habitation and work.
According to CNBC, the UK Space Agency (UKSA) will provide approximately $3.5 million in funding for this project.
“All space missions depend on energy sources to support communication systems, life support, and scientific experiments,” UKSA stated.
Rolls-Royce has been collaborating with various universities and organizations to develop a nuclear reactor on the Moon – (Photo: NASA).
Rolls-Royce Holdings plc will partner with several organizations in this project, including the University of Oxford, Bangor University, the University of Brighton, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield, and Nucle AMRC.
Paul Bate, the Chief Executive of UKSA, emphasized: “Rolls-Royce’s research lays the groundwork for providing power to support the ongoing human presence on the Moon. It also strengthens the broader UK space sector, creating jobs and attracting further investment.”
According to UKSA, Rolls-Royce aims to have a nuclear reactor ready for launch to the Moon by 2029.
Dhara Patel, a space expert at the UK Space Agency in Leicester, told CNBC: “Solar energy is ideal for generating power on Earth with a 24-hour rotation, but is not suitable on the Moon, as one rotation there lasts two weeks.”
On the other hand, with little atmosphere and no liquid water on the surface, other renewable energy sources cannot be utilized.
Meanwhile, nuclear energy can provide a continuous power supply regardless of the physical environment and surface conditions on the Moon.
However, Patel also noted: “Nuclear fuel will be used to generate heat, so it is crucial to carefully consider how to generate power efficiently and manage radioactive waste.”
News from the UK comes at a time when NASA is ramping up its Artemis program, focusing on establishing a “sustainable presence on the Moon to prepare for missions to Mars.”
