Posted on 06/24/2022 7:04:32 AM PDT by bitt
US space agency has announced plans to put nuclear reactor on moon by 2030
It is part of a vision to turn Earth's only natural satellite into orbiting fuel station
NASA has shortlisted three concepts for 40-kilowatt class fission power system
The nuclear reactor is planned to last at least 10 years in the lunar environment
NASA has announced plans to put a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 as part of a vision to turn the lunar body into an orbiting power station.
The US space agency has chosen three design concept proposals for a fission power system that could be ready to launch by the end of the decade.
It would then be tested by astronauts returning to the lunar surface under the new Artemis programme, which will see the first woman and 13th man land on the moon by 2025.
The plan is for the 40-kilowatt class fission power system to last at least 10 years in the lunar environment, with the hope that it could one day support a permanent human presence on the moon, as well as support manned missions to Mars and beyond.
If NASA is to build a base on the lunar surface, one of the major problems to solve will be how such a proposed settlement would be powered.
Solar panels are great for powering rovers, but a human base would need a continuous and reliable source of power.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
My point is that harnessing metals requires not just that you lasso them, but that you get them here to planet earth and that takes an exponential quantity of energy - energy to get the energy their to get the metal back again.
I understand. We were both talking about different issues.
Like I said, it’s not really important, and any “potential solution”, if it even exists, is beyond me.
I think I used too many commas…
Well at least there is plenty of water on the moon to dowse the meltdown.
NASA will spend the next seven years trying to figure out if the first woman on the moon should be black or transgender.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Or a towelhead. Muslim outreach is in NASA’s misson or charter.
Nuclear batteries have powered sattelites for decades.
Thanks, good information! I was wondering what type of coolant would be used. Was thinking that helium gas might work in some type of sterling heat engine configuration. Prime concert is it needs to to provide constant power with zero maintenance.
On youtube now...
As if we DON'T need continuous and reliable sources of power here on earth. It's ok for the MOON to have that power plant, but not us EARTHLINGS?
Why not just erect the greenies favorite play toys on the moon? They believe that unicorn flatulence can power these things to meet our needs anywhere in the universe, so why not on the moon?
...then the NEXT seven years trying to figure out which pronouns to use.
Thanks. I had no idea. I’ll watch it tonight.
What happens to the fissionable material if the rocket explodes on the pad or before it reaches orbit?
The Multihundred-Watt radioisotope thermoelectric generators (MHW RTG) is a type of US radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) developed for the Voyager spacecraft, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.I was a young mechanical engineer when the program was happening and Dad kept me informed of the design work. I remember he showed me dramatic videos of the impact testing they did on test articles prior to launch to make sure the fuel spheres would not leak plutonium if the launch failed.Each RTG had a total weight of 37.7 kg including about 4.5 kg of Pu-238. It uses 24 pressed plutonium-238 oxide spheres and provides enough heat to generate approximately 157 Watts of electrical power initially – halving every 87.7 years.
Each RTG generated about 2,400 Watts of thermal power. Conversion of the decay heat of the plutonium to electrical power used 312 silicon-germanium thermoelectric couples. The initial thermoelectric couple hot junction temperature was 1832 °F with a cold junction temperature of 572 °F.
Each Voyager spacecraft has 3 RTGs. Collectively, the RTGs supplied each Voyager spacecraft with 470 Watts at launch. The three RTG units, electrically parallel-connected, are the central power sources for the Voyager mission module. Each RTG is made up of a radioisotope heat source, a thermoelectric converter, a gas pressure venting system, temperature transducers, connectors, a heat rejecting cylindrical container, and bracketry. The RTGs are mounted in tandem (end-to-end) on a deployable boom.
The heat source radioisotopic fuel is Plutonium-238 in the form of the oxide Pu02. In the isotopic decay process, alpha particles are released which bombard the inner surface of the container. The energy released is converted to heat and is the source of heat to the thermoelectric converter.
In August 2012, its identical sibling, Voyager 1, crossed the threshold into interstellar space. Voyager 2 entered it in November 2018. The two Voyager craft were only supposed to give NASA a look at Jupiter and Saturn — everything else was a bonus. And they are still operating today!
There were LOTS of protests in 1977 to stop the launch of the plutonium powered RTGs because of the extreme toxicity of plutonium.
I doubt NASA is considering RTGs for the moon base.
So they're gonna throw Biden's suggestion on the trash heap, just like that?
Regards,
You're kidding, of course!
It will power a manned station - that will be plunged into the cold blackness of night half of the time (14 days per month).
Electricity, to electrolyze water and thus extract oxygen to breathe, etc.
Regards,
That’s a good list, but I don’t think RTGs are still “that banned” currently.
RTGs are still the only viable power source for deep space missions.
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