Nuclear Energy on the Moon? Italy Develops Nuclear Reactor for Lunar Bases

The Italian national space agency, known as ASI, has started the Selene project that aims to create small nuclear reactors to power settlements on the moon.

Selene Project: Pioneering Nuclear Solutions for Lunar Challenges

This ambitious project is predicated on the success of a lot of other lunar exploration projects around the world. The Selene (Sistema Energetico Lunare con l’Energia Nucleare) project was chosen in 2023 as one of the winners of an ASI funding call. Their goal was to find alternative energy solutions for lunar usage that could overcome challenges that come from traditional technologies.

The ASI project focuses on developing the Moon Energy Hub (MEnH). In theory, this could provide a stable source of energy for lunar settlements using Surface Nuclear Reactors. With much talk about colonising Mars among the space community, this could prove to be a hot topic. 

“Italy is strongly committed to the exploration of the Moon and the creation of a permanent lunar base,” explained Angelo Olivieri, head of Scientific Missions at ASI. “Regarding energy supply, the currently available solutions, based on the use of solar energy, do not allow us to achieve the challenging energy goals for future activities on the lunar surface, due to the alternation of 14 days of light and 14 days of darkness. The search for an adequate technological solution represents a field of great interest for ASI.”

The project will be led by the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), while being funded by the ASI, with further assistance from the Department of Energy at the Polytechnic University of Milan and Thales Alenia Space Italia.

It will run for three years and as well as developing the reactors themselves, the project will focus on sensors and wireless power transmission as well as energy storage systems that can handle disruptions and power demand changes. As is responsible, the researchers will also work on the decommissioning plans, too.

Based on the EuropeanSpaceflight’s article.