(cont'd from yesterday's post)
Nighttime is quite different on the Moon. Since it rotates more slowly than Earth, darkness lasts for two weeks . . and there are craters in perpetual darkness that will have to be explored. For those reasons, solar power production won't be sufficient though it will be used.
We'll need nuclear (image). According to remarks made last month by the interim NASA administrator, the new goal is to deploy a 100 kilowatt fission reactor on the Moon by 2030. A question to answer soon is: exactly where will it go?
"In order to be useful, the reactor must be close to accessible, extractable and refinable water ice deposits." Yes, they believe water ice exists in some of those dark craters. Lunar orbital missions are finding it. Then lunar rover VIPER will come and investigate the best prospects.
from Space
(cont'd tomorrow)
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