La NASA necesita una fuente de energ\u00eda confiable en la Luna para alimentar sus misiones de exploraci\u00f3n espacial.\u00a0Encarg\u00f3 a tres empresas que desarrollaran conceptos de dise\u00f1o que permitieran disponer de un sistema de energ\u00eda nuclear lunar en funcionamiento para fines de la d\u00e9cada.\u00a0Deber\u00e1 proporcionar al menos 40 Kw de energ\u00eda, suficiente para hacer funcionar 30 hogares durante 10 a\u00f1os de forma continua.\u00a0La NASA expresa que la demostraci\u00f3n allanar\u00e1 el camino para misiones de larga duraci\u00f3n en la Luna y Marte.<\/p>\n
NASA needs a reliable energy source on the Moon to fuel its space exploration missions. It tasked three companies to develop design concepts that could see a lunar nuclear power system up and running by the end of the decade.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n It will need to provide at least 40Kw of power, enough to run 30 households for 10 years continuously. NASA says the demonstration will pave the way for long-duration missions on the Moon and Mars.<\/p>\n \u201cNew technology drives our exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond,\u201d Jim Reuter, associate administrator for NASA\u2019s Space Technology Mission Directorate, said. \u201cDeveloping these early designs will help us lay the groundwork for powering our long-term human presence on other worlds.\u201d<\/p>\n Three 12-month contracts, each valued at approximately $5m, were awarded through the US Department of Energy\u2019s Idaho National Laboratory. Lockheed Martin, Westinghouse, and IX won the contracts. Each will partner with other companies.<\/p>\n