SpaceNukes (Space Nukes,Space Nuclear Power Corporation) - Factories in Space

SpaceNukes (Space Nukes,Space Nuclear Power Corporation)

SpaceNukes specializes in the design and fabrication of fission reactor power systems for use in outer space - for the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Created: 2021-07-18

Updated: 2024-01-20

Company - SpaceNukes (Space Nukes,Space Nuclear Power Corporation)

Founded
Country: 2020; USA

Funding: Yes, ?

Website: https://www.spacenukes.com/

Social

Product/Service

Classification: Space Utilities

Category: Resources - Energy
Nuclear Fission Power

Fields: Nuclear Power
Nuclear Fission Power

Status: Development

First launch: Not announced

The artwork shows astronauts completing the installation of four 10-kWe SpaceNukes reactors on the Mars surface. In this architecture, the reactors are buried in 1.5m deep holes, which reduces the mass of the landed system by a nearly a factor of 2 (due to less shielding and power cabling). The buried configuration allows the outpost to be positioned closer to the power station based on astronaut dose requirements; although other logistical reasons, such as damage from landing debris, might require ~1-km of separation regardless. The buried configuration would also allow astronauts easier and more frequent/lengthy access to the power site for planned or unplanned maintenance (because of the lower dose rates). It is anticipated that initial reactor missions will accept the mass penalty of leaving the reactor on the lander, until a surface architecture is established that could bury the reactors.

In addition to surface power, SpaceNukes reactors are intended to provide power in space, wherever sufficient sunlight is not available; e.g. the outer solar system and beyond. LANL’s KRUSTY was prototypic of a 1-kWe space power system that could be used for high power instruments and/or high data transmission rates – perhaps a communications satellite in orbit around Mars or a high fidelity probe of Enceladus. Higher power systems, perhaps 5 to 30 kWe could power ion thrusters to allow missions that orbit multiple moons, or missions to orbit Neptune, Pluto, or further out Kuiper objects, while also allowing powerful diagnostics and high data transmission rates. No matter what the power level, or whether on surface or in space, the basic technology and operation of the system is almost identical and tied directly to the KRUSTY test. The biggest system difference between surface and space reactors will be in radiation shielding and heat rejection.

JETSON

Aerospace Partnership wins Air Force Research Laboratory Joint Energy Technology Supplying On-orbit Nuclear (JETSON) Nuclear Electric Propulsion Demonstration Project, 2023-10-16

Similar Organizations

3K SpaceTech

X-Charge

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming, Space Solar Power, In-Orbit Data Storage, In-Orbit Computing

Dormant, Early stage

AGPower92

Mini Modular Reactor (MMR)

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Early stage, Dormant

Alvior

Orbital Solar

Space Solar Power, Power Beaming, Resources - Energy

Dormant, Early stage

antares

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Development

Aphelia Space

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy

Development

Aquila Earth

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy

Development

Astrobotic

LunaGrid

Resources - Energy, Lunar Power Service

Development

Atomos

Quark

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Resources - Energy, On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling

Development, Launched

Avalanche Energy

Orbitron

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fusion Power

Development

Azimut Space

HEBAM

ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Resources - Energy, Hardware

Concept

Blue Origin

Resources - Energy

Concept

BWX Technologies

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Early stage

Canadian Space Mining Corporation

LEUNR

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Early stage

Ceres Robotics

50KW Vertical Solar Array Technology

Resources - Energy, Lunar Power Service

Development

Clara Venture Labs

Resources - Energy, Hardware

Development

Constanellis Aerospace

Resources - Energy, Lunar Electric Grid

Development

Draper Laboratory

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

Development

Emrod

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy, Space Solar Power

Development

Entropy

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy, Space Solar Power

Dormant, Early stage

Extra Terrestrial Power

Resources - Energy, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)

Concept, Launched

Fibertek

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming, Space Solar Power

Concept

Gryphon Technologies

Nuclear Fission Power, Orbital Transportation, Resources - Energy, Hardware, Transport Service (LEO-Moon)

Development

HelicitySpace

Helicity Drive

Resources - Energy, Space Tug, Nuclear Fusion Power, In-Space Logistics

Early stage

Honda Motor

ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Space Resources, Resources - Energy, Space Robotics, Robotic Arm

Development

Honeybee Robotics

LUNARSABER

Resources - Energy, Space Robotics

Development

Howe Industries

SPRINT, SPEAR

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Radioisotope Power, Solar Thermal Propulsion, Active Debris Removal (ADR)

Concept

Ion Power Group

Resources - Energy

Idea

IX

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Development

KC Space Pirates

Resources - Energy

Concept

KESE

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming, Space Solar Power

Concept

Lockheed Martin

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Concept, Development

Lumi Space

Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Resources - Energy

Development, Cancelled

Lunar Night Survival

Resources - Energy, Lunar Electric Grid

Dormant, Concept

Lunar Resources

Farview Observatory, Lunar South Pole Oxygen Pipeline

In-Space Manufacturing, Resources - Energy, Space Construction Company

Early stage

Maana Electric

TerraBox

Resources - Energy, Resources - Oxygen, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), In-Space Manufacturing

Development

MDA

Canadaarm3, SKYMAKER

On-Orbit Servicing, Space Robotics, Commercial Rover, Resources - Energy, In-Space Assembly, In-Space Manufacturing

Development

NearStar Fusion

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fusion Power

Development

Northrop Grumman

Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research (SSPIDR)

Space Solar Power, Resources - Energy

Development

NPT

Resources - Energy, Hardware

Early stage

OHB Czechspace

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power, Orbital Transportation

Concept

Orbital Mining Corporation

P3 (Power, Prospecting and Propellant)

Resources - Energy, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Lunar Power Service, Lunar Electric Grid

Development

ORiS

Space Solar Power, Power Beaming, Lunar Power Service, Resources - Energy

Development

Photonicity

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

Early stage

Powerlight

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy

Development

Princeton Satellite Systems

Direct Fusion Drive (DFD)

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fusion Power

Development

Pulsar Fusion

Direct Fusion Drive (DFD)

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fusion Power

Development

Litepulse

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy, Lunar Electric Grid, Space Solar Power

Early stage

Reach

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy

Development

Rocket Engineering

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Concept

Roland Berger

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

Concept

Rolls-Royce

Nuclear Fission Power, Nuclear Radioisotope Power, Resources - Energy

Concept

RTX

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

Development

Satellite Squared

Resources - Energy

Dormant, Early stage

Shimizu Corporation

Luna Ring

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming, Hardware

Concept

Sierra Space

ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Space Resources, Resources - Energy

Development

Solar Space

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

Dormant, Idea

Solestial

Resources - Energy, Space Solar Power, Hardware

Development, Launched

Space Applications Services

European Charging Station for the Moon (ECSM)

Resources - Energy

Concept

Space Power

Resources - Energy, Space Solar Power, Power Beaming

Development

Spacefaring Services

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

Spacefaring Services

Dormant

Stellarion Energy

Project SEEE

Resources - Energy, Space Solar Power, Power Beaming

Dormant, Concept

STELLS

MPR (Mobile Power Rover)

Commercial Rover, Power Beaming, Resources - Energy

Development

SunCubes

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

Development

The Lunar Grid

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

Dormant

Tractbel

PULSAR

Nuclear Radioisotope Power, Resources - Energy

Early stage, Concept

USNC

Pylon

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power, Commercial Rover, Orbital Transportation

Development

US Nuclear Corp

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fusion Power

Development

Virtus Solis

Space Solar Power, Power Beaming, Resources - Energy

Development

Volta Space

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy, Lunar Electric Grid

Development

Westinghouse

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Concept

X-Energy

Xe-100 Reactor

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Development

XISP

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

Early stage

Zeno Power Systems

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Radioisotope Power

Development

AGPower92

Mini Modular Reactor (MMR)

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Early stage, Dormant

antares

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Development

BWX Technologies

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Early stage

Canadian Space Mining Corporation

LEUNR

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Early stage

Dark Fission Space Systems

Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation, Nuclear Fission Power

Development

Framatome Space

Nuclear Fission Power, Nuclear Radioisotope Power

Concept

Gryphon Technologies

Nuclear Fission Power, Orbital Transportation, Resources - Energy, Hardware, Transport Service (LEO-Moon)

Development

IX

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Development

Lockheed Martin

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Concept, Development

OHB Czechspace

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power, Orbital Transportation

Concept

Rocket Engineering

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Concept

Rolls-Royce

Nuclear Fission Power, Nuclear Radioisotope Power, Resources - Energy

Concept

USNC

Pylon

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power, Commercial Rover, Orbital Transportation

Development

Westinghouse

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Concept

X-Energy

Xe-100 Reactor

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Development