Rolls-Royce and UK Space Agency Launch Study into Nuclear-powered Space Exploration
SWINDON, UK (UK Space Agency PR) — The UK Space Agency and Rolls-Royce are joining forces for a unique study into how nuclear power and technologies could be used as part of space exploration.
This new research contract will see planetary scientists work together to explore the game-changing potential of nuclear power as a more plentiful source of energy, capable of making possible deeper space exploration in the decades to come.
Nuclear propulsion, which would involve channelling the immense energy released in splitting the atom to accelerate propellants, like hydrogen, at huge speeds, has the potential to revolutionise space travel.
By some estimates, this kind of engine could be twice as efficient as the chemical engines that power our rockets today. Spacecraft powered by this kind of engine could, conceivably, make it to Mars in just 3 to 4 months – roughly half the time of the fastest possible trip in a spacecraft using the current chemical propulsion.
Nuclear space power is anticipated to create new skilled jobs across the UK to support the burgeoning UK space economy.
Science Minister Amanda Solloway said:
As we build back better from the pandemic, it is partnerships like this between business, industry and government that will help to create jobs and bring forward pioneering innovations that will advance UK spaceflight.
Nuclear power presents transformative possibilities for space exploration and this innovative study with Rolls-Royce could help to propel our next generation of astronauts into space faster and for longer, significantly increasing our knowledge of the Universe.
Dr Graham Turnock, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:
Space nuclear power and propulsion is a game-changing concept that could unlock future deep-space missions that take us to Mars and beyond.
This study will help us understand the exciting potential of atomic-powered spacecraft, and whether this nascent technology could help us travel further and faster through space than ever before.
Dave Gordon, UK Senior Vice President, Rolls-Royce Defence said:
We are excited to be working with the UK Space Agency on this pioneering project to define future nuclear power technologies for space. We believe there is a real niche UK capability in this area and this initiative can build on the strong UK nuclear network and supply chain.
We look forward to developing this and other exciting space projects in the future as we continue to develop the power to protect our planet, secure our world and explore our Universe.
It would not just mean a time saving – it would also radically reduce the dose of radiation taken on by astronauts that would be making future trips to Mars or other planets. The size of the dose increases the longer you spend in deep space, away from the bubble of protection given by the Earth’s magnetosphere.
The appeal of a small nuclear power generator for propulsion also comes from the fact that power in space becomes increasingly precious with distance from the Sun. In the outer Solar System, sunlight gets too dim for solar panels, and other technologies like fuel cells are often too patchy as a source of energy.
Nuclear propulsion is an idea that has existed since the 1950s, when the United States attempted to develop a rocket propelled by small atomic bombs tossed out the back.
6 responses to “Rolls-Royce and UK Space Agency Launch Study into Nuclear-powered Space Exploration”
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More research into space nuclear power is always welcome. Plus it would be interesting to see what testing could come up with in terms of NTR – all our working prototypes for NTR were done back in the 1960s. Maybe we can do better now, get a higher specific impulse or more thrust.
I have this idea for a small thermionic nuclear power and bi-modal NTR propulsion system, inspired by the history of the Soviet Topaz reactor.
So I decided to see if anyone had ever tried working on that concept (considering that there are no good original ideas when it comes to spaceflight). Yep. Found one!
how funny.
I have been thinking about nuclear waste. We simply set it aside in water and let it cool off for a LONG LONG TIME.
Yet, it seems like, esp. on the TRISA fuel, that if we took ‘spent’ fuel, and embed it into special concrete, with heat pipes in it, it would be possible to have a low grade reactor that produces say 150-200C temps which can then serve as a campus, town, city type heater.
This would also continue the usage of the fuel until it is really spent.
Same thing can happen with the above. IOW, we take the spent fuel, put it into concrete on the moon/mars, and then use the low -80c and lower temps against the 150-200C to get some ammonia type generator going, along with local heat source.
Moltex (among others) plan to re-use so called spent fuel, as current reactors only burn about 5% of the fuel, their waste burner reactor is intended to burn virtually all the fuel leaving comparatively short half life waste.
Yup. I’ve been watching Moltex and keep wondering what it would take to make a SMALL re-processing set-up? Perhaps on several train cars. The idea being that for places that set up burning reactors on old reactor sites, have it re-process the ‘spent fuel’ for use in these burners.
The final statement in this government press release is extremely interesting because it refers specifically to pulsed fission systems (e.g. Orion), rather than continuous fission systems (e.g. NERVA)… a real game changer, indeed!