NASA and the U.S. government seek proposals for how to place a nuclear fission plant on the Moon. The goal is to have energy that’s independent of the sun by the end the next decade.
NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory formally put out a request for proposals from the public on Friday for a fission surface power system.
In a collaboration between NASA and the nation’s top federal nuclear research lab, the two agencies are specifically looking to establish a source of power that does not rely on the sun or solar power for missions on the moon.
Sebastian Corbisiero (the Fission Surface Energy Project leader at the laboratory) stated in a statement that ‘Providing an reliable, high-power systems on the moon was a crucial next step in human exploration. And it is within our reach.

Pictured: The diagram of nuclear fission’s power system NASA.

NASA and the nation’s top federal nuclear research lab are looking to establish a source of power, diagram pictured, that does not rely on the sun or solar power for missions on the moon

NASA continues to research and develop the project, in an effort to fulfill its future surface power requirements.

This power system would be made on Earth and send to the Moon. It will provide uninterrupted power for 10 year in lunar orbit.
According to NASA, Mars would become the next destination if the lunar nuclear reactors are successful in maintaining a human presence on the Moon.
NASA says that the fission-surface power of this type could be used to provide long-term energy for lunar colonies humans, regardless if there are any environmental factors.
‘I expect fission surface power systems to greatly benefit our plans for power architectures for the moon and Mars and even drive innovation for uses here on Earth,’ Jim Reuter, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, said in a statement.
It would first be constructed on Earth before it was sent to the moon.
NASA asks for submissions to their fission surface power systems. They require a nuclear-powered reactor core and thermal management to ensure the reactor is at the right temperature. A system to turn the radioactive power into energy will also be required.
The power system will have to be able to deliver continuous power in lunar conditions for 10 years.

If the mission is successful, then similar missions would use the nuclear power to launch humans to Mars.

NASA claims that fission power from the surface of fission could provide power long-term for lunar colonials, regardless of their environmental conditions

Pictured: NASA has accepted proposals to build a nuclear-fission power station on the Moon at The Idaho National Laboratory Transient Reactor Test Facility, Idaho Falls.

Submissions for an initial design of a system are due by February 19,
It must be able to turn itself on or off automatically without the need for human supervision, can be operated from a lunar landing deck and be mobile enough that it can be moved from one lunar location to another.
Proposals for the reactor that are successful must be no heavier than 13.200 pounds. They also need to be smaller than a 12-foot diameter cylindrical measuring 18-feet when launched from the earth to the moon.
Submission deadlines for proposals to initial system designs are February 19th, the outlet reports.
It isn’t the first collaboration between NASA and Idaho National Laboratory. The lab recently helped build a radioisotope energy system for NASA’s Mar’s Rover Perseverance. This converts heat from decay of plutonium-238 to electrical power.
Martian surface rover, which landed there in February of this year, has remained on Mars ever since.
In recent times, the Energy Department is also seeking private business partners to work on various plans for nuclear power. This includes a new generation small-scale power plants that range from modular to mobile units to quickly deploy in the field.