Moon Quest: Robots, Rovers and a Nuclear Power Plant Roll Out

NASA plans to launch a wave of robotic missions to the Moon, starting in 2027 and aiming for up to thirty landings over a few years. The goal is to set up a small but functional lunar base that will help future trips to the Moon and Mars. The agency is inviting companies, universities and other countries to send small devices such as rovers, hoppers or drones. Upcoming payloads include the VIPER rover and the LuSEE‑Night mission, and a new call for proposals will be issued on March 24. In partnership with the Department of Energy, NASA is working on a tiny nuclear reactor called the Fission Surface Power system. The design will provide at least 40 kilowatts of steady electricity—enough to power about thirty U. S. homes for over a decade—by 2030. A later request in 2025 will look for larger units, over 100 kilowatts, to support bigger habitats and experiments. The reactor will use low‑enriched uranium and heat‑pipe technology, turning heat into power with Stirling engines or a Brayton cycle. It will be lightweight and able to run for ten years or more without refueling.The reactor will arrive on the Moon in an unpowered state and be turned on once it reaches its destination. It can be moved a short distance from living areas by rover to keep astronauts safe, and the Moon’s surface dust can add extra shielding. No crew will need to maintain it after installation. NASA is also reworking its plan for lunar rovers. The new contract will cover both crewed and uncrewed vehicles that should be operational by 2028. Uncrewed rovers will travel at least eight hundred kilometres, last a year, and have basic autonomy or remote control. Crewed rovers will cover at least nine hundred kilometres and offer extra distance for astronauts to explore.