Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

NASA Developing Small Nuclear Reactor For the Moon

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the because-they're-nasa dept.

marshotel writes "NASA astronauts will need power sources when they return to the moon and establish a lunar outpost. NASA engineers are exploring the possibility of nuclear fission to provide the necessary power, and they are taking initial steps toward a non-nuclear technology demonstration of this type of system."

18 of 431 comments (clear)

  1. Can't wait to see... by Schnoogs · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...GreenPeace launch their intergalactic spaceship to intercept NASA in orbit and all of the zero-g protesters.

    1. Re:Can't wait to see... by Profane+MuthaFucka · · Score: 5, Funny

      The reactor is going to explode and contaminate the moon, turning it into a place where a human cannot survive without some kind of protective clothing. Clearly, this is unacceptable.

      --
      Fascism trolls keeping me up every night. When I starts a preachin', he HITS ME WITH HIS REICH!
    2. Re:Can't wait to see... by gnick · · Score: 5, Funny

      One big problem with putting a slingshot on the moon capable of achieving escape velocity. I read an analysis on the topic several years back:

      First we establish the means of hurling stuff off of the moon sufficient to achieve escape velocity. Soon we realize the potential of using that mechanism for mining and establish a mining colony. Miners realize that, after several years in 1/6 gravity, they cannot return to Earth and their resources are being irreversibly diminished because hurling ore at Earth is much cheaper than hurling water at the moon. Through the aid of an advanced computer, they decide to declare war and start "throwing rocks" at us.

      Sure, moon culture may turn out to be pretty cool and incorporate some groovy polygamy, but nobody wants a rock war.

      --
      He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
    3. Re:Can't wait to see... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Paper beats rock, and we have plenty of trees here on Earth. We can't lose!

    4. Re:Can't wait to see... by SecondHand · · Score: 4, Funny

      just use a big slingshot (or whatever) to hurl it off in the general direction of the sun

      if only the sun would stop moving...

    5. Re:Can't wait to see... by eclectro · · Score: 3, Funny

      Dude, you got it wrong. The reactor is going to explode, sending the moon out of Earth's orbit. Moonbase Alpha will boldly go where no man has gone before. Exploring space one crazy alien at a time.

      --
      Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
    6. Re:Can't wait to see... by philspear · · Score: 4, Funny

      I personally think it's easy to send things into the sun because I've never had to do it before and it always works great for superman. Also because I rarely figure out the calculus and physics behind wild "what if" scenarios. What's the fun in that?

      It's jerks like you who make foreign policy boring by saying stuff like "Yes we could invade Iraq, but then what would we do about the insurgency, building democracy blah blah blah I hate america." Let us build the ever loving nuclear reactor on the moon then chuck it into the sun when we're done with it! Next you're probably going to whine about how tax dollars might better be spent on education or some crap like that!

    7. Re:Can't wait to see... by mpeskett · · Score: 5, Funny

      Until they build a giant pair of scissors out of moon-metal...

    8. Re:Can't wait to see... by spazdor · · Score: 4, Funny

      And if only it were massive enough to materially affect the trajectories of the planetary bodies near it!

      --
      DRM: Terminator crops for your mind!
  2. At least getting rid of the waste won't be hard by HungryHobo · · Score: 3, Funny

    Unless the NIMBY crowd change to NIMOrbit

    1. Re:At least getting rid of the waste won't be hard by Hub_City · · Score: 3, Funny

      Cmon, you never saw Space: 1999? It's a disaster in the making!

      (On the other hand, there's Catherine Schell...)

  3. Dupe! by PinkyDead · · Score: 4, Funny

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space:_1999

    Asking for trouble... 'cos this didn't work out too well for Moonbase Alpha.

    --
    Genesis 1:32 And God typed :wq!
    1. Re:Dupe! by Minwee · · Score: 4, Funny

      True, but when NASA returns to the moon they're gonna party like it's Space 1999.

  4. Yes! This can be a source of power! by Spazztastic · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now to implement The Alan Parsons Project!

    --
    Posts not to be taken literally. Almost everything is sarcasm.
  5. Send Homer. by Verdatum · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nuclear technician, spaceflight experience. Not as proficient as the inanimate carbon rod, but who is?

  6. Re:Umm, water? by explosivejared · · Score: 4, Funny

    A little known fact, there is no China on the moon. Therefore, you do not have to worry about the China Syndrome. You can run a nuclear reactor any way you want.

    --
    I got a catholic block.
  7. Re:Not solar? by camperdave · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's why you supplement the solar power with wind power. Haven't you watched any of those greenie off-the-grid shows?

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  8. Doesn't work by Sloppy · · Score: 5, Funny

    just use a big slingshot

    In the thin/nonexistent atmosphere of the moon, the rubber bands dry out and crumble quickly.

    --
    As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.