Rolls-Royce's Journey into Space: The Micro-Nuclear Reactor for Long-Duration Missions

February 08, 2023 By Monica Green

(Image Credit Google)

Rolls-Royce, a well-known British aerospace engineering firm, is venturing into the spaceflight industry by developing a micro-nuclear reactor. The goal is to use this reactor as a source of fuel for long-duration space missions, including trips to the Moon and Mars. A digital mock-up of the reactor design was recently teased on Twitter by the company. The reactor would utilize uranium as fuel, which is commonly used in nuclear fission, a process where an atom is bombarded with a neutron to release energy. Rolls-Royce has obtained $600 million in funding from both public and private sources for the development of its nuclear reactor technology. The company believes that the use of a nuclear reactor would result in a lighter system, as it wouldn't require carrying as much fuel as a traditional chemical propulsion rocket, thus allowing for faster travel or increased payloads. The reactor could serve as both a new form of propulsion and a power source for bases on the Moon or Mars. Rolls-Royce's goal is to have a ready-to-deploy nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2029. The micro-nuclear reactor is still in its early stages of development, and a full announcement of the final product has yet to be made. The company is currently in the "concept, design, development, and testing phase" of the reactor and is working on a basic prototype.

A Rolls-Royce Micro-Reactor is designed to use an inherently safe and extremely robust fuel form. Each uranium particle is encapsulated in multiple protective layers that act as a containment system, allowing it to withstand extreme conditions.https://t.co/OOc9kBGXDx pic.twitter.com/wkXmZgzhrs
— Rolls-Royce (@RollsRoyce) January 27, 2023

Rolls-Royce is not the only organization exploring alternative rocket propulsion systems. NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency have joined forces to develop a thermal rocket engine that would shorten the time it takes to reach deep space. NASA also recently conducted a successful test of a rotating detonation rocket engine, which requires less fuel and provides more thrust compared to traditional propulsion systems. In conclusion, as space exploration continues to evolve, the technology that drives these missions will be of utmost importance. Rolls-Royce's micro-nuclear reactor is a promising advancement that has the potential to change the way we approach space travel, offering a new source of fuel and power for missions to the Moon and Mars.

By Monica Green

I am specialised in latest tech and tech discoveries.

Rolls-Royce's Journey into Space: The Micro-Nuclear Reactor for Long-Duration Missions

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