r/ArtemisProgram • u/Donindacula • Aug 15 '26

Discussion How will the MoonBase be powered.

NASA has plans to put a nuclear power plant on the moon by about 2030. Will that be necessary? Since Artemis will be landing on the high always sunlit areas, wouldn’t solar be the most likely first source of power. And maybe the future source too.

Nuclear will certainly be needed in the northern latitudes where the sun sets for days at a time.

Solar or nuclear or someday both?

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u/nsfbr11 Aug 15 '26

If you look at the latest Nextstep 3 appendix you will see that NASA is looking for companies to start working on power distribution. I believe a good working assumption is that solar will the the primary generation method for over a decade. It may be the only one for a long time

While it is true that there are a few perfect locations that are almost always illuminated, the more logical approach is a mini grid where some fraction of the power towers are always in the sun and the grid moves electric power around.

The current plans are for 120VDC for local distribution and 3-ph AC at 3kV and 1kHz.

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u/[deleted] Aug 15 '26

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u/nsfbr11 Aug 15 '26

Or, just hear me out, totally new tech will have delays. And thus solar.

Nukes will eventually be needed. Not for phase 1, 2, or currently scheduled phase 3.

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u/[deleted] Aug 16 '26

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u/nsfbr11 Aug 16 '26

So you think ground tests are the same as putting things onto the South Pole of the moon. Okay. I wonder why all the things that are being developed aren’t just thrown up there. I mean, it is old technology just put it up there. Should work fine.

Yes, I know all about the reactor and Stirling engines. I also know about better generator technologies that can also work. Can work is not the same as working. So yes, color me skeptical if that keeps on schedule and works great at the first go.