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Science

BootinUp

(49,023 posts) Sun Mar 26, 2023, 06:58 PM Mar 2023

Rolls-Royce go-ahead to build a nuclear reactor on Moon

Rolls-Royce has received funding from the UK Space Agency to develop a nuclear reactor for a Moon base.

The project will look into how nuclear power could be used to support a future base on the Moon for astronauts.

Scientists and engineers at the British company are working on the micro-reactor programme to develop technology that will provide power needed for humans to live and work on Earth's natural satellite.

The UK Space Agency has announced £2.9 million of new funding for the project which will deliver an initial demonstration of a UK lunar modular nuclear reactor.

A £249,000 study was funded by the UK Space Agency in 2022.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/17/rolls-royce-go-ahead-build-nuclear-reactor-moon/

4 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Rolls-Royce go-ahead to build a nuclear reactor on Moon (Original Post) BootinUp Mar 2023 OP

The epitome of "What could go wrong?" dchill Mar 2023 #1

Yeah. We've screwed up this place so why not ? Deuxcents Mar 2023 #2

Don't you think it's dangerous to put a nuclear reactor on top of a 220-story building? Probatim Mar 2023 #3

Wiki: Nuclear power in space Tetrachloride Mar 2023 #4

dchill

(40,471 posts)

1. The epitome of "What could go wrong?"

Reply to BootinUp (Original post)

Sun Mar 26, 2023, 07:25 PM

Mar 2023

Deuxcents

(19,709 posts)

2. Yeah. We've screwed up this place so why not ?

Reply to dchill (Reply #1)

Sun Mar 26, 2023, 07:38 PM

Mar 2023

Probatim

(3,016 posts)

3. Don't you think it's dangerous to put a nuclear reactor on top of a 220-story building?

Reply to BootinUp (Original post)

Sun Mar 26, 2023, 08:15 PM

Mar 2023

No more dangerous than putting a baby's head in a buzzsaw.

Classic SCTV sketch. Their spoof of Towering Inferno.

Tetrachloride

(8,447 posts)

4. Wiki: Nuclear power in space

Reply to BootinUp (Original post)

Sun Mar 26, 2023, 08:31 PM

Mar 2023

Small fission reactors for Earth observation satellites, such as the TOPAZ nuclear reactor, have also been flown

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_space

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