Rolls-Royce Receives More Funding to Build a Nuclear Space Micro-Reactor

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Sustainable energy sources are undoubtedly the way forward for humanity. Still, nothing beats nuclear energy density and cost, and that is particularly true in space. That’s because getting heavy cargo in space is costly, with every gram flown out of the Earth’s orbit costing around $1,000! So, if we are to build lunar bases and develop spacecraft that could reach other planets with people onboard, we need nuclear micro-reactors.

Rolls-Royce, a company that produces cutting-edge aircraft and spacecraft propulsion, is already working on developing micro-reactors that will power future vessels. They are powered by small pellets of enriched uranium or plutonium, carbon, and ceramic, which are placed in tubes from geometrical graphite. Lightweight and energy-dense, these reactors will allow for much cheaper power generation in space. As a result, they will allow humanity to go on long-term missions to other celestial bodies and speed up scientific research. 

Still, Rolls-Royce also thinks nuclear micro-reactors have terrestrial use as well, as they are much more energy-dense than the small modular reactors (SMRs) that have been proposed as a solution to our increasing energy needs. Notably, Rolls-Royce’s micro-reactor can produce 10 MW while being compact enough to fit inside a truck’s bed.

Now, the company has received a boost from the UK Space Agency (UKSA) to accelerate the development of the technology. The additional £4.8 million (US$6.2 million) brings the total funding to £ 9.1 million (US$11.7 million) and is part of the National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP).

Rolls-Royce says that the final design should appear in 18 months. However, we should wait until the end of the decade for the first micro-reactor from the company to enter orbit. A few years after the orbital test, Rolls-Royce plans to test a Moon version, which would be used to power future lunar bases. The company won’t be alone in developing the technology and will work with academic collaborators at the University of Oxford and Bangor University.

Ashton Henning