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."
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."