NASA wants to put a nuclear reactor on the Moon. This US scientist says it could be a very bad idea

[Marlin]

NASA wants to put a nuclear reactor on the Moon. This US scientist says it could be a very bad idea

https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/nasa-nuclear-reactor-on-the-moon-pros-cons

[Core Content]

NASA plans to deploy a fission reactor on the lunar surface by 2030 to support a permanent human base. However, astrophysicists and engineers have raised concerns regarding the tight timeline, harsh lunar environment, and technical hurdles of operating nuclear hardware in space.

For the nuclear sector, space applications require overcoming severe engineering challenges such as cooling without air or liquid water, protecting systems from micrometeoroids, and managing launch safety risks. International policy questions regarding jurisdiction and safety zones around extraterrestrial nuclear sites also add complexity to these deployment plans.

Astrophysicist Dr Ethan R Siegel on the practicalities of a nuclear base on the Moon and why astronomers might be right to remain sceptical.

The concept of a lunar base seems straight out of science fiction, but after the recent success of Artemis, NASA is planning to send humans back to the Moon to establish a long-term presence there.

A lunar base would require sustainable power, which is no mean feat in such harsh conditions.

So NASA has proposed building a nuclear reactor on the lunar surface, with the ambitious aim of launching it by 2030.

Read the full article at BBC Sky at Night Magazine:
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/nasa-nuclear-reactor-on-the-moon-pros-cons