NASA is also investigating nuclear energy to power space exploration endeavours. It tested a portable nuclear reactor in 2018 as part of attempts to design a system capable of powering a Mars home. NASA and the Department of Energy picked three firms last year to construct a fission surface power system for testing on the Moon. DARPA and the Defense Department have collaborated on several NTP engine initiatives in recent years.
A compact modular nuclear architecture has just received US approval for the first time. According to Gizmodo, the design allows for a nuclear station around one-third the size of a normal reactor. Each module can generate around 50 megawatts of electricity. The architecture, developed by NuScale, has the potential to reduce the cost and complexity of developing nuclear power facilities.
