A 1,000°C Lunar Microreactor Could Power the Next Era of Moon Bases
A new nuclear reactor design could provide reliable power for future moon bases, helping with both living systems and extracting resources from lunar soil. The reactor can reach 1,000°C, which is needed for a process that extracts oxygen and metals from moon dust. It also includes a heat storage system to keep the process running during power outages.
A new nuclear reactor design called MULE could power moon bases and help extract resources from lunar soil by using high heat to process regolith. It uses a thermal cascade to efficiently power different systems.
This reactor could make long-term moon bases more sustainable by reducing reliance on Earth for supplies and providing steady energy during the long lunar night.
The design shows how technology can support human presence on the Moon in a practical and efficient way, offering a realistic path toward future space exploration.
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