Cleveland (OH) - Researchers at NASA's Glenn Research Center are looking at a sub-surface fission-based nuclear reactor to power the first permanent Lunar outpost. A relatively small 40 Kilowatt reactor - enough to power about 8-10 homes on Earth - would prove a constant, predictable power source for the remote base. Scientists believe the regolith (Lunar soil) would shield the deadly radiation well enough to make it safe for human habitation.

The power generators would sit on the Moon's surface, with large poles extending up about 50 feet into the air. These would release excess heat if ever there was a problem. The normal heat generated from the controlled fission reaction would be turned into electrical energy through mechanical motion - similar to what happens on Earth.

NASA is considering two engine designs to convert the heat into electricity. The first is a twin-cylinder piston-based Stirling engine which operates on the principle of changes in temperature and pressure through airflow. The other is a Brayton rotary engine pack.

Solar power would not work on the surface, because there is a constant cycle of 14 days of sunlight followed by 14 days of darkness on the moon. It would require storing energy for long periods of use in batteries. And, as we all know, batteries do not last very long, at least not yet.

The research effort receives an annual $10 million in funding from NASA and the DOE. Previous efforts to employ nuclear reactors in space vehicles have failed or been cut due to budget constraints. Executive head of NASA's "Space Power Systems" program, John Warren said, that any such design approved by NASA will be similar to those "[the DOE] has operated for many years."

Sounds too expensive

Sep 30, 2008 12:36     

With what's happening to economy, I betting that NASA get their budget cut.
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Water?

Sep 30, 2008 12:36     

Aren't most nuke plants on earth essentially massive steam generators? The steam is then pressurized and used to do mechanical work which generates power. How is this going to work on the moon without a steady supply of water? I'll admit I don't know a huge amount about nuclear power.
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Did I see this at Nieman Marcus?

Sep 30, 2008 13:34     

They always have stuff like this. For the gotta-have-its. The one-mile-island model. A personal power plant for your house. Complete with life-like replica, scale modeled miniature picketers for your yard. Also includes "The China Syndrome" Limited Edition DVD.
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Three Mile Island- The Lunar Edition

Sep 30, 2008 15:58     

Just what the universe needs another nuclear meltdown for the aliens... Lordy
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buncha negetive nancy's

Sep 30, 2008 17:19     

don't you guys think that the technology to maintain the safety of such a project. just like the black hole bs we been hearing.
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nuclear moonshine

Sep 30, 2008 18:23     

[Scientists "believe" the regolith (Lunar soil) "would" shield the deadly radiation well enough to make it safe for human habitation.] China: "Bi end of ye-ah, we poot chinese man on Muun." Nasa: "Damn it! If we can't get back up there, then nobody will!"
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Re: Water

Oct 01, 2008 09:10     

>> Aren't most nuke plants on earth essentially >> massive steam generators? Conventional nuclear power plants are essentially massive heat sources. Yeah, most of 'em heat water which transfers -that- heat to other water to boil to steam. The expansion of water into steam is transformed into electrical energy through the use of turbines and electrical generators. On the moon...basically, if they find a good heat sink, they'll be able to do the same thing. Naval nuclear power plants have a closed-loop system; the steam produced is simply cooled/condensed back into water and fed back into the system.

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Re: Re: Water

Oct 01, 2008 12:53     

"On the moon...basically, if they find a good heat sink, they'll be able to do the same thing." The problem there is you can't really use a heat sink on the moon. There is no air to conduct the heat to, but you can use the floor, or radiate the heat out. The floor would only be cool within the 14 day darkness I'd imagine.
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re: Three Mile Island- The Lunar Edition

Oct 02, 2008 08:43     

A Three Mile Island on the moon wouldn't add anymore radiation to space. Space already has more radiation that a billion nuclear plants or bombs could ever produce.
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Fun Toys

Oct 02, 2008 10:54     

This sounds like a fun toy. I want one! Seriously though, using the ground as a heat sink is perfectly workable for such a small plant I would immagine. Remeber, they're talking 40KW - that's only about 30 horsepower to put it in perspective - so there's no huge cooling towers and massive heat exchangers required. Even if you're talking 10% efficiency - which is extremely low - it's still only about a million BTUs of waste heat.

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