ASTE 527 C.H.A.S.E. �N.U.K.A. Proposal

Damitrius Morales

dimorale@usc.edu

Astronautical Engineering Department

12/14/2021

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Context: How did we get here?

• Some key goals being considered:
• Lunar Surface Exploration and Development
• Development of Technologies to enable human exploration of Mars

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Context: How did we get here?

• Some key goals being considered:
• Lunar Surface Exploration and Development
• Development of Technologies to enable human exploration of Mars

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• NASA’s Response:
• Long-duration trips away from Artemis Base Camp
• Surface Habitat will enable stays on the lunar South Pole

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Problem: Everything requires power!

• Completed Artemis Base Camp will require 40 kilowatts of power at full operation

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Problem: Everything requires power!

• Completed Artemis Base Camp will require 40 kilowatts of power at full operation

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• After 50 years of technological progress, NASA still recommends LRV use capped to 10 kilometers for safety
• Space-rated battery technology is still lacking
• Not helpful for long-duration trips to Permanently Shadowed Regions

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Rationale: Landing at the South Pole

• Power generation from sunlight is difficult
• On the Moon, the lunar night lingers for 14 days, while sunlight varies widely near the poles
• Sunlight completely absent in the permanently shadowed craters

Rationale: Landing at the South Pole

• Power generation from sunlight is difficult
• On the Moon, the lunar night lingers for 14 days, while sunlight varies widely near the poles
• Sunlight completely absent in the permanently shadowed craters

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• On Mars, the Sun’s power varies widely throughout the seasons, and periodic dust storms can last for months

Assumptions and Ground Rules

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1. Reactor design is outside the scope of this concept

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Assumptions and Ground Rules

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1. Reactor design is outside the scope of this concept

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• Assume any international treaty concerns are settled for altering lunar surface/infrastructure construction and nuclear use

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Assumptions and Ground Rules

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1. Reactor design is outside the scope of this concept

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• Assume any international treaty concerns are settled for altering lunar surface/infrastructure construction and nuclear use

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• Assume operation can be supported with surface resupply missions

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Concept: Nuclear Utilization with Kilopower Applications

• Nuclear power would allow for consistent power generation in a compact size
• Anticipated 10-year lifespan without refueling

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Concept: Nuclear Utilization with Kilopower Applications

• Nuclear power would allow for consistent power generation in a compact size
• Anticipated 10-year lifespan without refueling

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• A New Nuclear Triad
• Habitat Support
• Lunar Roving
• Infrastructure

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Nuclear Utilization with Kilopower Applications (N.U.K.A.)

Reimagining Lunar Transportation: Rovers

• The South Pole of the Moon contains many pristine permanently shadowed regions
• Only one or two are within reach per site
• Could require additional orbital landings to visit other craters of interest

Reimagining Lunar Transportation: Rovers

• The South Pole of the Moon contains many pristine permanently shadowed regions
• Only one or two are within reach per site
• Could require additional orbital landings to visit other craters of interest

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• Kilopower LRVs can visit many site without fear of being stranded far from base
• Does not rely on a battery which keeps mass but does not provide power

Reimagining Lunar Transportation: Infrastructure

• The original Lunar Roving Vehicle moved at 8 mph on average
• Covered scientific instruments in lunar dust, potentially ruining samples

Reimagining Lunar Transportation: Infrastructure

• The original Lunar Roving Vehicle moved at 8 mph on average
• Covered scientific instruments in lunar dust, potentially ruining samples

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• Los Alamos Lab Nuclear Boring Machine melts rock into glass-lined tunnels
• No water content challenges from Earth
• Allows for higher speed up to 30 mph

The unique appeal of the Moon…

• Lower risk for waste and meltdowns
• The Moon is less susceptible to tectonic activity
• No nearby life in danger from radiation
• Lower gravity means lower structural requirements

The unique appeal of the Moon…

• Lower risk for waste and meltdowns
• The Moon is less susceptible to tectonic activity
• No nearby life in danger from radiation
• Lower gravity means lower structural requirements

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• Empty Lava Chambers and Tubes lie under the surface in a connected web for waste storage
• More than a quarter million metric tons of waste on Earth right now

Limitations and Merits: A Nuclear Future on the Horizon?

Limitations

• Continue to kick the can down the road on the problem of nuclear waste
• Risks continue to exist compared to solar
• Nuclear Hesitation persists

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Limitations and Merits: A Nuclear Future on the Horizon?

Limitations

• Continue to kick the can down the road on the problem of nuclear waste
• Risks continue to exist compared to solar
• Nuclear Hesitation persists

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Merits

• Enhances the mission of self-sustainability and lower government reliance
• Use of in-situ formations for building space and in-situ Helium-3 resources for fuel
• Enables Supercharged Lunar Transportation
• On-surface transportation to different sites instead of separate orbital missions
• Alternative for nuclear waste on Earth to be transported to a stable, less harmful environment
• These arguments become even more valid on Mars
• Dust and Seasonal Sunlight make solar even less reliable

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References

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[1] https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/a_sustained_lunar_presence_nspc_rep

ort4220final.pdf

[2] https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/multimedia/lroimages/lroc-20110217-chain.html

[3] https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA13518

[4] https://www.venturelab.swiss/Felix-Amberg-Reaching-out-to-Mars-helps-us-develop-

innovations-for-our-future-on-Earth

[5] https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2016GL071588

[6] https://www.pnas.org/content/117/30/17461

[7] https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2018-4973

[8] https://beyondnerva.wordpress.com/2018/05/02/krusty-we-have-fission-kilopower-part-iii/

[9] https://phys.org/news/2019-05-dome-pacific-nuclear-coffin-leaking.html

[10] https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/americas-mad-scientists-wanted-use-nuclear-power-

create-tunnels-shocking-way-40072

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Thank You!

Any Questions?