https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/17/uk-backs-rolls-royce-project-to-build-a-nuclear-reactor-on-the-moon.html Skip Navigation logo * watchlive logo Markets * Pre-Markets * U.S. Markets * Currencies * Cryptocurrency * Futures & Commodities * Bonds * Funds & ETFs Business * Economy * Finance * Health & Science * Media * Real Estate * Energy * Climate * Transportation * Industrials * Retail * Wealth * Life * Small Business Investing * Personal Finance * Fintech * Financial Advisors * Options Action * ETF Street * Buffett Archive * Earnings * Trader Talk Tech * Cybersecurity * Enterprise * Internet * Media * Mobile * Social Media * CNBC Disruptor 50 * Tech Guide Politics * White House * Policy * Defense * Congress * Equity and Opportunity CNBC TV * Live TV * Live Audio * Business Day Shows * Entertainment Shows * Full Episodes * Latest Video * Top Video * CEO Interviews * CNBC Documentaries * CNBC Podcasts * CNBC World * Digital Originals * Live TV Schedule Watchlist Investing Club * Trust Portfolio * Analysis * Trade Alerts * Meeting Videos * Homestretch * Jim's Columns * Education PRO * Pro News * Pro Live * Subscribe * Sign In Menu * Make It * select + Credit Cards + Loans + Banking + Mortgages + Insurance + Credit Monitoring + Personal Finance + Small Business + Taxes + Help for Low Credit Scores + Investing * USA * INTL * watchlive Search quotes, news & videos Watchlist SIGN IN Create free account logo Markets Business Investing Tech Politics CNBC TV Watchlist Investing Club PRO Menu Sustainable Future * Investment * Responsibility * Technology * Future Power * Industry * CNBC ESG Council * The Forum Sustainable Future UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor on the moon Published Fri, Mar 17 20237:32 AM EDTUpdated Fri, Mar 17 202311:40 AM EDT Anmar Frangoul WATCH LIVE Key Points * "Nuclear power has the potential to dramatically increase the duration of future Lunar missions and their scientific value," UK Space Agency says. * Rolls-Royce has been working on a Micro-Reactor program "to develop technology that will provide power needed for humans to live and work on the Moon." * The UKSA will now provide PS2.9 million (around $3.52 million) of funding for the project. In this article * BMW-DE * RR.-GB Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Rolls-Royce has been working on a Micro-Reactor program "to develop technology that will provide power needed for humans to live and work on the Moon." Lorenzo Di Cola | Nurphoto | Getty Images LONDON -- The UK Space Agency said Friday it would back research by Rolls-Royce looking at the use of nuclear power on the moon. In a statement, the government agency said researchers from Rolls-Royce had been working on a Micro-Reactor program "to develop technology that will provide power needed for humans to live and work on the Moon." The UKSA will now provide PS2.9 million (around $3.52 million) of funding for the project, which it said would "deliver an initial demonstration of a UK lunar modular nuclear reactor." The new money builds upon PS249,000 provided by the UKSA to fund a study in 2022. "All space missions depend on a power source, to support systems for communications, life-support and science experiments," it said. "Nuclear power has the potential to dramatically increase the duration of future Lunar missions and their scientific value." Read more about energy from CNBC Pro Wells Fargo upgraded this oil refiner that could rally more than 20% Sunrun and Sunnova Energy are at attractive entry points after SVB crisis, Wells Fargo says 'Unprecedented growth': Citi reveals its 4 top stocks in renewables right now Rolls-Royce is set to work with a range of organizations on the project, including the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and Nuclear AMRC, and the University of Oxford. "Developing space nuclear power offers a unique chance to support innovative technologies and grow our nuclear, science and space engineering skills base," Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, said. Bate added that Rolls-Royce's research "could lay the groundwork for powering continuous human presence on the Moon, while enhancing the wider UK space sector, creating jobs and generating further investment." According to the UKSA, Rolls-Royce -- not to be confused with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, which is owned by BMW -- is aiming "to have a reactor ready to send to the Moon by 2029." Dhara Patel, space expert at the National Space Centre in Leicester, England, told CNBC that humans returning to the moon would need "a reliable power source" so astronauts could "live and work on our lunar neighbour for long-term missions." "Solar power would seem an obvious choice but the Moon's rotation results in a two-week day followed by a fortnight of darkness or night time -- not ideal," Patel went on to explain. "With little air and no liquid water on the surface, other renewable sources of energy aren't possible," she said. "Nuclear power could enable a continuous source of power regardless of the physical environment and conditions on the lunar surface." Using nuclear power on the moon, Patel noted, could boost the lifetime of lunar missions. "What will require careful consideration is the nuclear fuel that will be used to generate heat, how it will be responsibly sourced along with how efficiently the new technology will generate electricity from the process and manage the radioactive waste." "The extra funding from UKSA will hopefully allow Rolls-Royce to explore these areas and develop the best systems possible." The news out of the U.K. comes at a time when NASA is pushing ahead with its Artemis program, which is focused on creating what it calls a "sustainable presence on the Moon to prepare for missions to Mars." NASA is working with international and commercial partners on Artemis. In July 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon. More In Sustainable Future A tidal power 'mega project' in one of Europe's iconic waterways could power 1 million homes. But costs are huge A tidal power 'mega project' in one of Europe's iconic waterways could power 1 million homes. But costs are huge Anmar Frangoul China's energy transition sees 'staggering' progress on renewables -- and a coal power boom China's energy transition sees 'staggering' progress on renewables -- and a coal power boom Sam Meredith watch now Eco-Age's Livia Firth: I think we were the first to promote the fact that glamour and ethics coexist watch now VIDEO09:50 Eco-Age's Livia Firth: I think we were the first to promote the fact that glamour and ethics coexist Tania Bryer Read More logo * Subscribe to CNBC PRO * Licensing & Reprints * CNBC Councils * Select Personal Finance * CNBC on Peacock * Join the CNBC Panel * Supply Chain Values * Select Shopping * Closed Captioning * Digital Products * News Releases * Internships * Corrections * About CNBC * Ad Choices * Site Map * Podcasts * Careers * Help * Contact * * * * * * * News Tips Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you. Get In Touch Advertise With Us Please Contact Us CNBC Newsletters Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox Sign Up Now Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Privacy Policy|Do Not Sell My Personal Information|CA Notice|Terms of Service (c) 2023 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Division of NBCUniversal Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. Market Data Terms of Use and Disclaimers Data also provided by Reuters comscore