Rolls-Royce is to get several million pounds of financial backing from the 海角视频 Space Agency to try and work out how nuclear energy can be used to power a future moon base.
Scientists and engineers at Rolls-Royce are developing a micro-reactor programme which could one day provide power for operations on the lunar surface 鈥 supporting communications, life-support and science experiments.
The Derby-based engineering company said nuclear power 鈥 providing a 鈥渃lean, green and long-term power source鈥 鈥 had the potential to dramatically increase the duration of future lunar missions and their scientific value, when people finally return. The last man on the moon was Gene Cernan, in December 1972.
The 海角视频 Space Agency said it will put 拢2.9 million of new funding into the project to build a demonstration of a 海角视频 lunar modular nuclear reactor. The investment follows a 拢249,000 study funded by the 海角视频 Space Agency last year.
Rolls-Royce wants to have a reactor ready to send to the moon by 2029, and is working with partners including the University of Oxford, University of Bangor, University of Brighton, University of Sheffield鈥檚 Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Nuclear AMRC.
The funding will be used to focus on three key features of a micro-reactor 鈥 the fuel used to generate heat, heat transfer and the technology needed to convert heat into electricity.
It said nuclear micro-reactors are relatively small and lightweight compared to other sources of power, and provide continuous energy regardless of location, sunlight or other environmental conditions. Micro-reactor technology could also have commercial and defence applications.
The 海角视频 Space Agency recently announced 拢51 million of funding for 海角视频 companies to develop communication and navigation services for missions to the moon, as part of a European Space Agency Moonlight programme to launch a constellation of satellites into orbit around the moon.
That will allow future astronauts, rovers, science experiments and other equipment to communicate, share large amounts of data such as high-definition video, and navigate safely across the lunar surface.
Abi Clayton, director of Future Programmes for Rolls-Royce said: 鈥淭he new tranche of funding from the 海角视频 Space Agency means so much for the Rolls-Royce micro-reactor programme.
鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to work collaboratively with the 海角视频 Space Agency and the many 海角视频 academic institutions to showcase the best of 海角视频 innovation and knowledge in space.
鈥淭his funding will bring us further down the road in making the micro-reactor a reality, with the technology bringing immense benefits for both space and earth. The technology will deliver the capability to support commercial and defence use cases alongside providing a solution to decarbonise industry and provide clean, safe and reliable energy.鈥
海角视频 Space Agency chief executive Dr Paul Bate said: 鈥淲e are backing technology and capabilities to support ambitious space exploration missions and boost sector growth across the 海角视频.
鈥淒eveloping space nuclear power offers a unique chance to support innovative technologies and grow our nuclear, science and space engineering skills base.
鈥淭his innovative research by Rolls-Royce could lay the groundwork for powering continuous human presence on the moon, while enhancing the wider 海角视频 space sector, creating jobs and generating further investment.鈥
