Space exploration requires reliable, sustainable energy sources to support missions to the Moon and beyond. The quest for suitable energy solutions raises questions about the feasibility and effectiveness of new technologies. Here is how Westinghouse positions itself in this scientific adventure.
Westinghouse Electric Company announced that NASAin collaboration with the United States Department of Energy (DOE), selected it to continue the development of a space microreactor as part of the project Fission Surface Power (FSP). This project focuses on designing small nuclear fission reactors capable of providing reliable electrical power to astronauts on the Moon and beyond. The contract, awarded by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), builds on the successful design work completed by Westinghouse during Phase 1. The goal is to optimize Westinghouse’s contributions to the FSP systems and their configuration, and begin testing critical technological elements.
What objectives for what ambitions
Continued progress on the FSP project could enable NASA to achieve its lunar demonstration goal within the next ten years. Richard Rademacher, President of Westinghouse Government Services, said: “Westinghouse appreciates the opportunity to continue to demonstrate its leadership in the design of microreactors for space and lunar exploration missions.”This announcement reflects their close collaboration with NASA and the progress made on the FSP program which will enable a strategic capability for the Artemis mission. “We look forward to testing and demonstrating our proprietary microreactor technology in the coming years under this important NASA initiative,” he added.
NASA’s FSP program expands the efforts of their Kilopower project, aimed at developing affordable nuclear fission power technologies for extended stays on planetary surfaces. Currently, NASA is working with DOE to design a fission power system capable of providing up to 40 kilowatts of energy – enough to power 30 homes for 10 years. A future lunar demonstration will set the stage for sustainable operations and base camps on the Moon and Mars.
eVinci Technology for Space Applications
Westinghouse leverages its eVinci™ microreactor technology to develop a robust, mass-efficient nuclear electric power and propulsion system for satellites, spacecraft and power applications on planetary surfaces. Built on decades of Westinghouse innovation, power is delivered safely and at scale where it’s needed for a variety of applications.
The eVinci microreactor generates reliable electricity and heat for remote communities, universities, mining operations, industrial centers, data centers, defense installations and soon the lunar surface. These resilient microreactors, with very few moving parts, provide versatility for different types of missions by reducing points of failure, simplifying operation and increasing reliability in the harsh environment of space.
Illustration caption: a micro-reactor on the moon accompanied by 3 astronauts
CP / Westhinghouse
