UK Space Agency backs Rolls-Royce nuclear power to support a future Moon base for astronauts.
Scientists at Rolls-Royce are working on the Micro-Reactor program to develop technology that will provide the power needed for humans to live and work on the Moon.
Nuclear power has the potential to dramatically increase the duration of future Lunar missions and their scientific value.
Rolls-Royce
Minister of State at the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology, George Freeman, said:
“Space exploration is the ultimate laboratory for so many of the transformational technologies we need on Earth: from materials to robotics, nutrition, cleantech, and much more.
As we prepare to see humans return to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, we are backing exciting research like this lunar modular reactor with Rolls-Royce to pioneer new power sources for a lunar base.
Partnerships like this, between British industry, the UK Space Agency, and the government are helping to create jobs across our £16 billion SpaceTech sector and help ensure the UK continues to be a major force in frontier science.
Nuclear space power is anticipated to create new skilled jobs across the UK to support the burgeoning UK space economy. Rolls-Royce plan to have a reactor ready to send to the Moon by 2029.”
source UK Government
