Rolls-Royce in Space
Rolls-Royce has secured funding from the United Kingdom Space Agency under the National Space Innovation Program (NSIP) to further develop its space nuclear power technology. The $6.2 million (£4.8 million) award will support the advancement and demonstration of key technologies in the space nuclear micro-reactor.
The Rolls-Royce NSIP project, with a total cost of $11.7 million (£9.1 million), aims to bring the reactor closer to a full system space flight demonstration. The company will collaborate with academic partners from the University of Oxford and Bangor University to develop the entire system design, underlying capabilities, and key technologies.
This project addresses the need for a reliable power supply in space, enabling long-term exploration on the Moon and beyond. Rolls-Royce had previously unveiled a conceptual model design of a nuclear Space Micro-Reactor that could one day supply electricity for a lunar settlement. This prototype was presented at the UK Space Conference in Belfast last year.
The lack of sunlight on the Moon’s south side poses a challenge for researchers and expeditions. A nuclear-powered reactor could solve this problem and support a continuous human presence on the Moon. The small, lightweight reactor would operate unaffected by the absence of sunlight, making it ideal for an outpost inside a dark crater at the south pole.
The proposed reactor, measuring 3.3 feet (40 inches) in width and 10 feet (120 inches) in length, is still in development and not yet capable of generating electricity. If all goes as planned, it will take approximately six years and several million dollars to prepare the reactor for its first space flight.