Imagine powering a moon base like a sci-fi flick 🚀 It's like giving the moon its own power-up ⚡
By 2030, NASA's interim administrator Sean Duffy plans to install a nuclear reactor on the lunar surface. This move is part of a new space race with the Chinese mainland to secure resource-rich lunar regions.
Meanwhile, the Chinese mainland launched the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project in 2017. Built with partners from Africa, Asia and Europe, ILRS embraces a joint construction and shared benefits philosophy.
But why go nuclear on the moon? 🌙 Solar panels struggle during the 14-day lunar night and face extreme temperature swings between hot days and freezing nights.
According to Yang Yuguang, chair of the Space Transportation Committee of the International Astronautical Federation, low-altitude regions near the equator are rich in helium-3 and face the toughest thermal shifts. Nuclear power can deliver up to a million kilowatts – way more than solar!
Spaceborne nuclear energy is not new. Since the 1960s, the U.S. and the Soviet Union used radioisotope generators to power satellites, Mars rovers and Voyager probes. The United Nations also recognizes nuclear energy as essential for deep-space missions, setting safety and transparency guidelines.
As lunar bases expand, space-borne nuclear power could be the game-changer humanity needs to explore farther into the solar system. Ready for lift-off? 🚀
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
