All articles tagged with #nuclear reactor
Russian researchers say a magnetoplasma accelerator powered by an onboard nuclear reactor could propel hydrogen at about 100 km/s, enabling a 30‑day Mars voyage. Ground tests are underway in a 14-meter vacuum chamber, with a flight‑model target by 2030, but questions remain about real‑world readiness, regulatory hurdles, and the lack of peer‑reviewed data.
Russia’s Troitsk Institute (Rosatom) is testing a 300 kW pulsed plasma engine that uses hydrogen and an onboard nuclear reactor to provide continuous thrust, potentially cutting Mars travel from months to about one to two months. Ground tests in a vacuum chamber suggest long operational life, with space deployment hoped for around 2030, though the tech remains unproven in space and faces regulatory and safety hurdles.
Oklo's stock price declined despite advancements in its nuclear reactor technology, indicating investor caution or other market factors affecting its valuation.
NASA plans to deploy a nuclear fission reactor on the moon by 2030 to support future lunar bases, resource extraction, and prepare for Mars exploration, with key challenges including selecting the optimal site near water ice deposits and protecting the reactor from lunar dust plumes during landings.
NASA plans to install a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030 to support the Artemis program's goal of establishing a sustained presence, driven by the need for reliable power in shadowed lunar regions and in response to China's and Russia's lunar ambitions. This marks NASA's first move from research to deployment of space nuclear fission technology, aiming to secure strategic lunar territory and advance human exploration beyond Earth.
NASA plans to launch a nuclear reactor to the moon by 2030 to support future human bases, addressing the limitations of solar power during lunar nights. The reactor would generate around 100 kilowatts, similar to Earth reactors but adapted for the moon's environment, with safety measures to prevent environmental contamination. The project faces challenges including high costs, technical hurdles, and geopolitical competition, but aims to establish U.S. leadership in lunar exploration.
NASA plans to build a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 to enhance space exploration capabilities, driven by geopolitical competition with China and Russia, and aiming to establish a sustainable lunar presence and future missions to Mars.
NASA's interim administrator, Sean Duffy, announced plans to send a nuclear reactor to the moon by 2030 as part of a new space race with China, aiming to establish a US claim on the most advantageous lunar region for its resources and solar power challenges, without launching a live reactor.
NASA plans to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030 to support a future lunar base, amidst international competition and geopolitical concerns, despite budget cuts and safety questions.
Images taken by miniature drones inside the damaged Fukushima reactor show displaced control equipment and misshapen materials, leaving many questions unanswered about the location and condition of the highly radioactive melted nuclear fuel. The 12 photos released by the plant’s operator, TEPCO, reveal brown objects of various shapes and sizes dangling from the pedestal, but it remains unclear whether they are melted fuel or equipment. The lack of information highlights the difficulty of the decommissioning process, which has already been delayed for years by technical hurdles and the lack of data.
Miniature drones captured the first images from inside the main structural support of the Fukushima No. 1 reactor, revealing displaced control equipment and misshapen materials. The photos, released by the plant's operator, highlight the challenges of decommissioning the plant and the difficulty in assessing the condition of the melted nuclear fuel. The 880 tons of highly radioactive melted nuclear fuel inside the damaged reactors present a daunting task for Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), which is attempting to gather more information to facilitate its removal. However, the lack of data and the unknown interior of the reactors suggest that the cleanup process may be overly optimistic and face significant delays.
A former boy scout, David Charles Hahn, stunned his neighborhood by building a nuclear reactor in his mother's shed in Michigan in 1994. Mistaken for a thief, authorities discovered radioactive materials in the shed and had to conduct a costly clean-up. Although charges were dropped, Hahn later faced legal troubles and struggled with mental health and substance abuse, ultimately passing away in 2016.
NASA's Fission Surface Power Project, aimed at developing a small nuclear fission reactor to generate electricity on the lunar surface, has completed its initial phase with three $5 million contracts awarded to commercial partners. The project seeks to create a system that can support lunar bases for a decade and serve as a pathway for similar systems on Mars. The reactor designs are expected to provide a reliable power source during the 14-night-long lunar night and are part of NASA's Artemis program, with plans for deployment on the Moon in the early 2030s.
Georgia Power Co. announced that vibrations in the cooling system of its second new nuclear reactor at Plant Vogtle will delay the unit's commercial operation until the second quarter of 2024. The utility faces potential profit losses and extra construction costs due to the delay, with regulators imposing restrictions on additional returns. The total cost of the Vogtle reactors is projected to near $35 billion, significantly higher than the initial estimate, raising concerns about the economic viability of pursuing nuclear power.
NASA's Fission Surface Power Project is concluding its initial phase, aiming to develop a small nuclear fission reactor for potential use on the Moon and Mars. Three commercial partners have been awarded contracts to design the reactor, with a focus on safety, reliability, and the ability to operate for a decade without human intervention. The reactor, capable of producing 40 kilowatts of electrical power, could provide a sustainable energy source for lunar exploration and science efforts, particularly during the 14-and-a-half Earth day-long lunar nights. NASA plans to extend the Phase 1 contracts to gather more information before moving into Phase 2, with a target date for delivering a reactor to the launch pad in the early 2030s.