By 2030, the United States aims to deploy a nuclear fission reactor on the moon. This major milestone will significantly propel forward Artemis, our return to the Moon and beyond. This ambitious plan comes five years ahead of similar plans announced by Russia and China. Both countries are in a race to have their first domestic nuclear reactor operational by 2035. The proposed reactor, while minuscule by typical power generation standards, will help fuel the expected future lunar base at that pole’s South Pole. This region is rich in water ice, which could be essential in building an infrastructure on the Moon.
Now, all of a sudden, nations are in a mad dash to explore and exploit the moon’s resources. Is the South Pole a new ground zero in this race between the U.S., Russia, and China? In doing so, these nations are acknowledging the strategic importance of this contested region, which boasts the most potential future human settlement and industrial activity beyond Earth. The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) is at the forefront. They argue that having a nuclear reactor will propel important scientific discoveries and forge economic opportunity in the extreme lunar environment.
U.S. Plans and Technical Challenges
To power its planned Artemis base camp, the U.S. plans to send a 100-kilowatt (kW) nuclear reactor along. Harnessing this technology means taking into account the moon’s environment and special conditions. Gravity on the moon is only one-sixth that of Earth’s. As such, engineers need to ensure the reactor will function safely and stably in this much lower gravity setting. Further, the absence of an atmosphere requires strong protection from solar radiation and micrometeorites.
The reactor’s ultimate final design has to be small enough. Second, it needs to fit on a human delivery-class lander that can deliver no more than 15 tonnes. This poses a particularly steep challenge when the average efficiency of existing nuclear reactors is only about 36%. The DoE’s Idaho National Laboratory is already working to address these challenges. They have so far awarded initial design contracts to the few leading companies, including X-Energy, Westinghouse and Lockheed Martin, who are now working on designs for a 40-kW reactor that could weigh up to six tonnes.
“2030 is an ambitious but achievable goal.” – DoE spokesperson
The DoE notes that a nuclear reactor on the moon would supply large amounts of energy needed for both research and industrial activities. As stated by a DoE representative, “A nuclear reactor on the moon will enable discovery and economic opportunities by providing robust power for research and industrial operations in a harsh environment.”
Competition from Russia and China
The U.S. would be the first with an ambitious timeline to develop lunar nuclear plans. At the same time, Russia and China are embarking on their own major initiatives. Russia is indeed planning to exploit its legacy-specialization nuclear technology. The country expects to partner with international titans such as Rosatom and OKBM Afrikantov to achieve major breakthroughs. At the same time, China has made dramatic progress through its own Chang’e missions, showcasing the country’s growing ability to compete in advanced international aerospace.
Ugur Guven, a space technology expert and advocate Ugur Guven issues a stark warning You have reconsidered weak U.S. political support and funding for NASA. Without this support, China could quickly beat America to deploying a lunar reactor and get there first. “If the current spending and political backing of NASA projects doesn’t change, there is a good chance that China is going to outpace the U.S. in putting a nuclear reactor on the moon,” he noted.
“If they can make it happen, it is far beyond the [Russian] or Chinese technology right now, in terms of manned missions.” – Ugur Guven
Russia sticks to well-known but outdated tech, while China tinkers with innovative but unproven concepts. Guven is convinced that this powerful combination would yield big wins for either country. He further claims that, if enough money is provided and the nation plans wisely, the U.S. can stay ahead.
Innovations and Considerations for Lunar Reactor Design
Developing a nuclear reactor designed to withstand the unique environment of the moon presents a wide array of engineering challenges. Making sure that we remain reliable for the long haul matters too. Astronauts wearing space suits won’t be able to do frequent maintenance. The DoE spokesperson highlighted that “astronauts in space suits are not going to be able to do the same kind of maintenance, nor as frequently.” As such, sea change components, particularly essential electronic systems such as sensors and controls, should be designed for durability with no regular replacement.
Engineers continue to develop helium-cooled nuclear reactors. Helium is an inert gas that just works better all around under extreme conditions, making it a no-brainer for this technically complex technology. This smart choice not only simplifies cooling processes but delivers maximum efficiency. Developing and deploying the right nuclear fuel will be key. To create meaningful energy capacity, look to something like a gaseous core reactor that fissions uranium hexafluoride.
“To use a helium-cooled nuclear reactor because helium is an inert gas and behaves well, hence it is easy to use as a coolant.” – Ugur Guven
Debates over mining the moon get ugly. In particular, helium-3 has garnered particular interest for its potential in future fusion energy applications here on Earth. Guven notes that “China has mapped all the resources for helium-3, which is a very important material if you want to create nuclear fusion energy for Earth.”