NASA has accelerated its program and now aims to deliver the unit to the satellite's south pole by December 2030, whereas the Russian-Chinese project is scheduled for 2036.
At the same time, as the publication notes, Russia currently holds the advantage in the field of space nuclear power.
Moscow has experience launching more than 30 reactors into space and possesses the largest stockpiles of the nuclear fuel required for such projects.
Russia plans to deliver the "Selena" reactor to the Moon to power the lunar station being developed jointly with China. The unit, with a capacity of up to 10 kilowatts, will be capable of autonomous operation for approximately ten years.
- The reason for this urgency lies in the future of space exploration.
"The US and China aim to be the first to establish a lunar base, seek out resources there—such as frozen water—and utilize them for further missions into the solar system. Control over access to lunar resources is crucial to these plans. Both superpowers view the nuclear reactor as a central element of their ambitions."
NASA plans to use HALEU (High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium), a material that is in short supply within the United States. Experts warn that this fuel shortage, combined with tight deadlines, could complicate American plans.
Here, Washington once again runs up against Russia: Russia is the largest producer of the fuel NASA requires. Yet, the US has banned the import of Russian uranium effective 2024.
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NASA aims to have a nuclear reactor ready for launch by December 2030 for use near the Moon's south pole, accelerating the program to beat Russia and China.
ReplyDeleteHowever, scientists warn that this rush increases the risk of a serious accident, the New York Times reports.
In the event of a launch failure, the reactor could crash back to Earth or into the ocean, while an accident on the lunar surface could lead to the dispersal of radioactive materials. Due to low gravity, these materials could scatter over a wide area, rendering parts of the terrain hazardous to astronauts and equipment.
Russia and China aim to deploy their reactor by 2036; however, none of the three nations currently possesses a proven system for the safe delivery of such a payload and the installation of the reactor, the NYT reports. The U.S. faces an additional challenge: a shortage of high-assay low-enriched uranium, which NASA plans to use in the unit.