{"id":39049,"date":"2021-11-19T16:25:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-19T20:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-475508"},"modified":"2023-07-26T16:32:50","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T20:32:50","slug":"fission-system-to-power-exploration-on-the-moons-surface-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/fission-system-to-power-exploration-on-the-moons-surface-and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"Fission System to Power Exploration on the Moon\u2019s Surface and Beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"padding-top-5 padding-bottom-3 width-full maxw-full hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-intro\"><div class=\"width-full maxw-full article-header\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2 width-full maxw-full\"><p class=\"label carbon-60 margin-0 margin-bottom-3 padding-0\">3 min read<\/p><h1 class=\"display-48 margin-bottom-2\">Fission System to Power Exploration on the Moon\u2019s Surface and Beyond<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-wide\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/fission_release.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"1041\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/fission_release.jpg?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Fission surface power systems \u2013 depicted in this conceptual illustration \u2013 could provide reliable power for human exploration of the Moon under Artemis.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 59% 50%; object-position: 59% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/fission_release.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/fission_release.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/fission_release.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/fission_release.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/fission_release.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/fission_release.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/fission_release.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/fission_release.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/fission_release.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/fission_release.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/fission_release.jpg?resize=900,900 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Artist’s concept of a fission power system on the lunar surface.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Credits: NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Exploration of the Moon and Mars requires the power of human imagination and vision. It also takes the power of electricity to bring science and technology to life when astronauts land and stay on the surface. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA has plans for a robust presence on the Moon under<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/artemis\"> Artemis<\/a> and eventually Mars, including the development of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/tdm\/fission-surface-power\/index.html\">fission surface power<\/a> system for safe, efficient, and reliable electrical power. Fission surface power \u2013 in conjunction with solar cells, batteries, and fuel cells \u2013 can provide the power to operate rovers, conduct experiments, and use the Moon\u2019s resources to produce water, propellant, and other supplies for life support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPlentiful energy will be key to future space exploration,\u201d said Jim Reuter, associate administrator for NASA\u2019s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) in Washington, which funds NASA\u2019s fission surface power project. \u201cI expect fission surface power systems to greatly benefit our plans for power architectures for the Moon and Mars and even drive innovation for uses here on Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA, in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE), is <a href=\"https:\/\/sam.gov\/opp\/f2610d99cf174e959eede4b170d86e2d\/view\" rel=\"noopener\">asking American companies for design concepts<\/a> for a fission surface power system that could be ready to launch within a decade for a demonstration on the Moon. The system should be capable of autonomous operation from the deck of a lunar lander or a lunar surface rover.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-wide\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Illustration of fission system on surface of Mars.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Artist\u2019s concept of a fission power system on the lunar surface. Credit: NASA<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why fission? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>It\u2019s reliable. Fission systems can operate continuously around the clock in shadowy craters and during the weeks-long lunar nights, when power generation from sunlight is difficult.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It\u2019s powerful. The systems NASA is asking companies to design would provide at least 40 kilowatts of power, enough to continuously power 30 households for ten years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It can be compact and lightweight. Systems like these could someday provide enough power to establish an outpost on Mars.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Next?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNASA and the DOE are collaborating on this important and challenging development that, once completed, will be an incredible step towards long-term human exploration of the Moon and Mars,\u201d said Fission Surface Power Project Manager Todd Tofil at NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers\/glenn\/home\/index.html\">Glenn Research Center<\/a> in Cleveland. \u201cWe\u2019ll take advantage of the unique capabilities of the government and private industry to provide reliable, continuous power that is independent of the lunar location.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fission surface power technologies will also help NASA mature <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/spacetech\/nuclear-propulsion-could-help-get-humans-to-mars-faster\">nuclear propulsion systems<\/a> that rely on reactors to generate power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA and the DOE (through the Idaho National Laboratory operated by Battelle Energy Alliance) will select competing U.S. companies to develop initial designs over a 12-month period. The resulting designs will inform an industry solicitation for the final design and build of a flight-qualified fission power system to send to the Moon on a demonstration mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA\u2019s fission surface power project is managed by NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. The technology development and demonstration are funded by the Space Technology Mission Directorate\u2019s Technology Demonstration Missions program, which is hosted at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Nancy Smith Kilkenny<\/em><\/strong><br><em><strong>NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/space-tech-research-grants\/nstgro-2024\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/srpd-astrophysics-branch.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/srpd-astrophysics-branch.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/srpd-astrophysics-branch.jpg?resize=300,240 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/srpd-astrophysics-branch.jpg?resize=768,614 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/srpd-astrophysics-branch.jpg?resize=1024,819 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/srpd-astrophysics-branch.jpg?resize=1536,1229 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/srpd-astrophysics-branch.jpg?resize=400,320 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/srpd-astrophysics-branch.jpg?resize=600,480 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/srpd-astrophysics-branch.jpg?resize=900,720 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/srpd-astrophysics-branch.jpg?resize=1200,960 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/srpd-astrophysics-branch.jpg?resize=2000,1600 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">3 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NSTGRO 2024<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/langley\/nasas-rasc-al-competition-selects-2024-winners\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"228\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg 3608w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=300,228 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=768,583 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=1024,778 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=1536,1166 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=2048,1555 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=400,304 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=600,456 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=900,683 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=1200,911 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=2000,1519 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">3 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA\u2019s RASC-AL Competition Selects 2024 Winners\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/general\/california-teams-win-1-5-million-in-nasas-break-the-ice-lunar-challenge\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/bannerbti.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/bannerbti.jpg 3520w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/bannerbti.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/bannerbti.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/bannerbti.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/bannerbti.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/bannerbti.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/bannerbti.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/bannerbti.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/bannerbti.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/bannerbti.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/bannerbti.jpg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">4 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">California Teams Win $1.5 Million in NASA\u2019s Break the Ice Lunar Challenge<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Exploration of the Moon and Mars requires the power of human imagination and vision. It also takes the power of electricity to bring science and technology to life when astronauts land and stay on the surface.  NASA has plans for a robust presence on the Moon under Artemis and eventually Mars, including the development of a [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":34255,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2681,2856,2656,2879,2788,2828],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[10639,3911,8598],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Fission System to Power Exploration on the Moon\u2019s Surface and Beyond","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/fission-system-to-power-exploration-on-the-moons-surface-and-beyond\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/fission-system-to-power-exploration-on-the-moons-surface-and-beyond\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg"},"articleSection":"Missions","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Kelly Sands"}],"creator":["Kelly Sands"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Technology","Technology for Space Travel","Artemis","Glenn Research Center","Humans in Space","Space Technology Mission Directorate","Technology Demonstration"],"dateCreated":"2021-11-19T20:25:00Z","datePublished":"2021-11-19T20:25:00Z","dateModified":"2023-07-26T20:32:50Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Fission System to Power Exploration on the Moon\u2019s Surface and Beyond\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/fission-system-to-power-exploration-on-the-moons-surface-and-beyond\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2021-11-19T20:25:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Missions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Technology,Technology for Space Travel,Artemis,Glenn Research Center,Humans in Space,Space Technology Mission Directorate,Technology Demonstration\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Kelly Sands\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":3,"time_ago":"3 years","featured_image":{"id":34255,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kpmdm_baseline_00013.jpg","title":"kpmdm_baseline_00013","alt":"Illustration of fission system on surface of Mars.","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39049"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39049"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39049\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":471306,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39049\/revisions\/471306"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34255"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39049"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39049"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=39049"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=39049"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=39049"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}