As the nation begins to execute a multi-decade Moon to Mars strategy and evolves a cislunar ecosystem, the question of long-term sustainable energy sources is more relevant than ever — and space-based nuclear power and propulsion (SNPP) is at the forefront of those discussions. But this nascent field requires a great deal of foundational work before being ready for operations, concluded experts in a workshop convened by The Aerospace Corporation.

In October, over a hundred people from government, industry, and commercial concerns attended a virtual workshop hosted by Aerospace’s Space Safety Institute entitled "Accelerating Safe Space Nuclear Applications." Two panels of experts discussed the policy challenges, then the technical challenges, of safely using nuclear power in space.

The discussion was prescient; a new Executive Order emphasizes the importance of nuclear power to maintaining U.S. leadership in the space sector.

The need for SNPP is clear to anyone thinking about establishing long-term presence on the Moon, Mars, or anywhere in between. As a the white paper summarizing the workshop puts it:

Independence from solar illumination makes nuclear the ideal power source for applications where there is an absence of sunlight such as lunar night, Martian dust storms, and rare trajectories that have extended eclipse conditions. High power density could make nuclear attractive over solar in some extremely high-power applications.

For human exploration, reliable power is a matter of life and death, and for space superiority, maintaining uptime when an adversary must shut down due to lack of sunlight is an unambiguous advantage.

Last week's executive order directs a nuclear reactor be ready to launch for deployment to the lunar surface by 2030; such a timeline requires that the preliminary tasks be performed as soon as possible. Identifying and defining tasks for safely conducting space nuclear applications was precisely the purpose of October's workshop.

You can read the paper summarizing the event's findings here; the group arrived at a handful of next steps:

1. Compile and document policy and technology needs in a white paper
2. Establish a common lexicon for SNPP technologies and policies
3. Identify and leverage existing tools in the space industry and community for collaboration on practices, testing, and operations
4. Fast-track a community-led, small-scale demonstration of SNPP at small scale to galvanize leadership and build practical expertise
5. Identify a senior champion in the government with the mandate, drive, and authority to plan and pursue SNPP

As more attention is focused on nuclear power as an important component of next-generation space infrastructure, communication and standard-setting among stakeholders and experts will become foundational needs. The Aerospace Corporation is ready to support the space enterprise on evolving SNPP in the national interest.