NASA has issued a request for information for a fission power system that will potentially be utilized for crewed missions to the Moon and Mars.
Table of Contents
Fission Surface Power System for Future Space Missions
The agency said Thursday it is seeking feedback from the space industry regarding a fission surface power system capable of generating at least 100 kilowatts of electricity and weighing less than 15 metric tons. The system will also utilize a closed Brayton cycle power conversion system to convert heat to electricity.
NASA aims to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon by the mid-2030s. The technology will be used for exploring the moon and eventually Mars and will also be leveraged for national security. Aside from providing continuous power, the nuclear reactor can be deployed in areas on the Moon that are not reached by sunlight or during prolonged lunar nights.
Interested vendors can submit their responses to the RFI by Aug. 21.
Remarks From Fission Surface Power Program Executive
Steve Sinacore, Fission Surface Power program executive, said, “Today’s call for industry input is an important step toward engaging the commercial space industry in powering the lunar economy and enabling future human exploration on Mars. Developing a safe, reliable and efficient power supply is key to unlocking the future of human space exploration and ensuring America retains its dominance in space.”
Related Articles
The General Services Administration has launched USAi, a secure generative artificial intelligence suite designed to help federal agencies experiment with AI tools and accelerate AI adoption. GSA said Thursday the launch of USAi advances the priorities in the White House’s America’s AI Action Plan, which seeks to strengthen U.S. leadership in AI through coordinated federal action, streamlined adoption and smarter infrastructure. A panel discussion at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Navy Summit on Aug. 26 will explore generative AI and how it optimizes decision-making within the service branch. Book your spot now at this GovCon networking event! Expanding Federal Government’s
Nextgov/FCW reported that the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council on Thursday released new model deviation text for six parts of the FAR as part of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul, or RFO, initiative. In April, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing his administration to amend FAR to streamline the federal procurement process and eliminate barriers to doing business with the government. In June, the FAR Council released model deviation text for sections related to emergency acquisitions, contract modifications and acquisition of information and communication technology, or ICT. The overhauled FAR parts include sections related to administrative and information matters; required sources of
The National Science Foundation and NVIDIA will invest $152 million in the development of advanced, open-source artificial intelligence models aimed at accelerating American scientific discovery. The public-private investment will support the Open Multimodal AI Infrastructure to Accelerate Science project led by the Allen Institute for AI, or Ai2, NSF said Thursday. Public-Private Investment for Open Source AI Models NSF will provide $75 million, with NVIDIA contributing $77 million. The initiative supports the White House AI Action Plan and aims to ensure the United States remains a leader in AI-powered research and innovation. “As called for in the AI Action Plan,