Many already know how lucrative asteroid mining could be, but what about scavenging the Moon and Mars for precious metals? Rolls-Royce is developing a nuclear reactor just for that purpose. More specifically, they are building a micro-nuclear reactor that could not only be used to propel spacecraft, but also installed on other celestial bodies to provide energy for drilling, processing, and storage during mining operations.
Dave Gordon, head of Rolls-Royce’s defense division, thanks Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX for the work they are doing, as just a few years ago, the idea of Moon or Mars mining would have been that of fantasy. However, with their innovation, this idea suddenly becomes not just credible, but there’s actually a demand for it. He also stated that Rolls-Royce is the only company on the planet that does mechanical, electrical, and nuclear.
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Photo credit: The Mail
We are excited to be working with the UK Space Agency on this pioneering project to define future nuclear power technologies for space. We believe there is a real niche UK capability in this area and this initiative can build on the strong UK nuclear network and supply chain. We look forward to developing this and other exciting space projects in the future as we continue to develop the power to protect our planet, secure our world and explore our universe,” said Dave Gordon, UK Senior Vice President, Rolls-Royce Defense.
