USA seeks Moon and Mars nuke power plant designs ready to fly in 2027
- Reference: 1595818625
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/07/27/nuclear_power_in_space_rfi/
- Source link:
The RFI specifies a “Fission Surface Power” unit “providing uninterrupted electricity output of not less than 10 kilowatts at the interface end of a 1-kilometer cable. The FSP system should provide 120 V (direct current) at the user interface of the end of a 1-kilometer cable.” Working life of ten years at full output is required, as is autonomous operations and the ability to survive “a single credible failure without reducing electric power capacity by more than 50%.” Another requirement is a modular design that can connect to others to create a larger combined power plant.
All that power needs to be packed into a “complete flight unit” weighing between 2,000kg and 3,500kg, including radiation shielding and all the bits needed to ensure it can survive launch and landing. Would-be-designers have been asked to make sure their design can work on Mars without modification, and to have their machine ready for launch no later than December 31st, 2026.
The RFI offers funds to help up to three bidders spend nine months on their designs, before construction of a prototype and ground testing.
NASA has discussed nuclear power options for more than a decade and it is not hard to see why: fuel is too heavy to schlep into space and solar power won’t be enormously useful or reliable in the planned South Pole location planned for US Moon bases. Past [2]musings on the subject have pointed out that a nuke plant on the moon would not need cooling towers, which would mean it could end up “about the size of an office trash can.” ®
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[1] https://beta.sam.gov/opp/b92644af4767413c9e831e633c6e2888/view?keywords=%22Idaho%20National%20Laboratory%22&sort=-relevance&index=opp&is_active=true&page=1¬ice_type=r
[2] https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/sep/HQ_08-227_Moon_Power.html
[3] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: What are they going to do with the heat?
Space is 1, big and 2, cold so radiating heat isn't too difficult.
And 10 kw isn't such a lot of power - about the same as a 100 people on a sofa
Re: What are they going to do with the heat?
100 people on a sofa? That's one heck of a group cuddle
Re: What are they going to do with the heat?
Around here, good luck making space between the whippets & greyhounds ...
Dear NASA, please find enclosed...
Plans for 1 (one) space-ready fission generator. It meets your weight and serviceability requirements, and includes 1 (one) service technician and accommodation.
Don't worry: he's part of the package. And he's not an astronaut, per se, just a technician, so he won't be hogging the glory. As an added incentive, should any other technical or maintenance tasks be required, his services will be available at very reasonable rates, to be negotiated.
Nukes on a moon?
Earth's moon? Ordinary solar panels from the hardware store should do better than 10 years of 10 kw from 2000 kg. Fancier solar panels should work on Mars too if you periodically wipe the dust off.
If I was on the moon or Mars, I'd prefer the solution that can take emergency repairs using simple tools.
Credibility
The notion that DoE could have a new design completed, and approved for use on Earth by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission within 6 years is not credible. (Use on Earth is necessary for testing purposes.) Assuming it is an actual reactor that is.
I wonder if HEU (near weapons-grade highly enriched uranium) is expected. They would have to check the lunar surface for little green martians: don't want to violate the non-proliferation treaties by letting LGM get their hands on that stuff, would you?
What are they going to do with the heat?
Nuclear reactors require shedding a lot of heat, which doesn't work terribly efficiently in a vacuum. Better locate it near a big deposit of ice, that way it can use the excess heat to melt it for fresh water and maybe boil it for tea or something.