China Will Build Stations On Nuclear Energy Months

Lander on the Moon. (photo: dock. Pixabay)

JAKARTA - Apart from Mars, the Moon is also currently the destination of a country that has a space mission. Like China, which is indeed planning to build a crew base station on the Moon, the difference is that it will be powered by nuclear.

The manned station is scheduled to be built in 2028 with a nuclear power system designed to generate one megawatt of electricity.

It sounds quite ambitious, but as is well known China has always proven its purpose. Two scientists working on the project told the South China Morning Post (SCMP), designs for the prototype version of the machine have been designed and some parts have even been made.

The capacity of the raw power plants discussed is huge. In comparison, the results of NASA's collaboration with the Department of Energy that has awarded contracts on three design concepts to build fission-style nuclear reactors, generate 40 kilowatt energy (about 4 percent of China's planned output) and can last at least 10 years on the Moon.

Meanwhile, the nuclear reactor being developed by Chinese scientists has a folding design like an umbrella to remove excess heat energy into the surrounding space, while liquid lithium will be used as a cooler.

However, the functional design scheme for the nuclear power plant system at China's lunar station has not been completed. Launching Slashgear, Monday, December 5, compared to conventional sources such as chemical energy and solar cells, nuclear is considered the most viable source of energy to sustain life support systems.

Nuclears can also refuel rovers, and mine resources for long-term exploration missions, as planned for the Artemis project.

Currently, NASA is eyeing a system that couples nuclear reactors with Stirling engines for future missions to the Moon and ultimately, Mars.

NASA, on the other hand, plans to send a crew to the Moon on the Artemis II mission, which currently has a tentative launch schedule in 2024.