Pointing out: A nuclear reactor…but in space

Here on Earth we talk about “dunkelflaute,” the times when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow. And during these times, renewable energy from solar panels and wind turbines can’t be generated. For a society that is increasingly forced to rely on such energy, the dunkelflaute phenomenon is not a pleasant one.

Space Donkflot

But such problems can also occur in space. While you might think the sun is always shining there, there are places where it’s not. Take the south side of the moon, for example, where astronauts conduct research missions. The lack of sun to generate power makes it difficult to propel spaceships and power bases. The Dunkelflaute space project also poses a challenge for potential future lunar communities, especially since there are no other energy sources that could temporarily step up their game.

small and light reactor

So the British car manufacturer Rolls-Royce is working on a nuclear reactor that would operate in space. After all, nuclear reactors are independent of natural forces and, in theory, could always provide power. Rolls-Royce’s design is small: the reactor should be about 3 meters by 1 meter. It’s also said to be relatively light. While it’s not certain how much power the reactor will provide, Rolls-Royce is being vocal. His website From 1 to 10 MW. For comparison: small nuclear reactors on Earth (so-called small modular reactors) have a capacity of up to 300 MW.

Demo version

The reactor costs around $11 million (around €10 million). Rolls-Royce has already received millions in investment from the British Space Agency, which is eagerly awaiting the creation of a space reactor. However, Rolls-Royce points out that this will take some time. The company is currently working on a test version that will travel to the moon in 2029. The real work will come only after that.

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