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NASA Developing Nuclear Reactor For Moon and Mars

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the react-to-the-reactor dept.

Al writes "NASA recently finished testing a miniature nuclear reactor that would provide power for an astronaut base on the Moon or Mars. The reactor combines a small fission system with a Stirling engine to make a 'safe, reliable, and efficient' way to produce electricity. The system being tested at NASA's Glenn Research Center can produce 2.3 kilowatts and could be ready for launch by 2020, NASA officials say. The reactor ought to provide much more power than solar panels but could prove controversial with the public concerned about launching a nuclear power source and placing it on the Moon or another planet."

3 of 424 comments (clear)

  1. Screw the moon by R2.0 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Why can't I have one of these in my back yard?

    --
    "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
  2. Re:mmhmmm by Runaway1956 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    "a metric ass-load of batteries"

    I can't seem to find a conversion chart for that. Could you put that into US tons? Or, long tons? Hell, metric tons would work. Just give us something to go by, alright?

    ROFLMAO, I just couldn't help myself!

    --
    "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
  3. Re:Nuclear Power on the Moon FTW! by BlueParrot · · Score: 0, Redundant

    then, when you finally figure that out, you have to take of an nuke it from orbit!

    Fixed it for you.