Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LSE:RR.) said it has secured funding from the UK Space Agency to look into how nuclear power may be used to support a future moon base.
The government agency will provide £2.9mln for the project, which will deliver an initial demonstration of a UK lunar modular nuclear reactor, according to a statement.
This builds on the £249,000 study funded by the UK Space Agency in 2022 and also follows a £51mln funding package as part of the European Space Agency’s Moonlight programme that aims to launch a constellation of satellites into orbit around the Moon from 2028.
With NASA planning to send astronauts back to the moon in the coming years, scientists and engineers at Rolls-Royce are working on the 'micro-reactor' programme to develop the technology that could power humans to live and work on the moon.
Rolls-Royce said it plans to have the moon-ready reactor, which is “small and lightweight” compared to other power systems such as the small modular reactors given support in the budget this week, ready for launch by 2029.
The applications of the micro-reactor are “wide-ranging” and could support commercial and defence use cases to those in space, the FTSE 100 company said.
Rolls-Royce will be working alongside several collaborators, including the Universities of Oxford. Brighton, Bangor and Sheffield.
The funding, it said, means the company can “further strengthen its knowledge” of micro-reactors, with a focus on heat generation, heat transfer and converting heat into electricity.
We’re backing new research by @RollsRoyce that will support future Moon missions. ????????
The funding will help develop tech that will provide power needed for humans to live and work on the Moon - from comms systems to life-support. ????????????????????????
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— UK Space Agency (@spacegovuk) March 17, 2023
“This funding will bring us further down the road in making the micro-reactor a reality, with the technology bringing immense benefits for both space and Earth,” said Abi Clayton, director of Rolls' Future Programmes section.
Space Agency chief executive Dr Paul Bate said: “We are backing technology and capabilities to support ambitious space exploration missions and boost sector growth across the UK. Developing space nuclear power offers a unique chance to support innovative technologies and grow our nuclear, science and space engineering skills base."
He said the work by Rolls-Royce “could lay the groundwork for powering continuous human presence on the Moon, while enhancing the wider UK space sector, creating jobs and generating further investment".