Nuclear power on the moon 🌕

Plus: A rare Martian meteorite could rewrite our theory on how planets form Jun 23, 2022 [Blueprint]( The moon, our largest natural satellite, remains an enigma to us. A long-term stay on its surface will undoubtedly help us uncover more of its secrets, but first, the astronauts will need to plug their devices into a power source, which a novel nuclear power system can surely assist with. To make the dream come true, NASA wants to send a nuclear reactor to the moon that can power a human presence for at least 10 years. The space agency has already selected three companies to develop design concepts for a nuclear fission system that will be installed on the moon as part of the Artemis mission. And this could even transform the nature of deep space exploration. Before we dive into the new lunar nuclear power design concepts, watch today’s video to see the world’s first PlayStation 5 “Slim”, which is less than one inch thick. Somehow. Good morning. I’m Derya, an editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s get started. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [The world’s first PlayStation 5 ‘Slim' was created by a brilliant YouTuber]( [PlayStation 5.]( Now instead of four inches, it's less than one inch thick. [Must Read]MUST READ [NASA's exploring 3 new design concepts for nuclear power on the moon]( [Moon.]( NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are collaborating to make nuclear power a reality on the moon. The agencies [have shortlisted three design concepts]( for a lunar nuclear fission system that were submitted by: 1) Lockheed Martin, based in Bethesda, Maryland, 2) Westinghouse, based in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, 3) IX, a joint venture between Intuitive Machines and X-Energy, based in Houston, Texas. → The DOE awarded $5-million contracts to the three companies listed above for Phase I work that will see the companies develop their preliminary designs over a 12-month period. The 40-kilowatt class fission reactor will be capable of running in the lunar environment for at least 10 years. To the moon, and beyond. The spae agency is not only looking to power human settlements with this mission. The technology will also help NASA improve its nuclear propulsion systems, which will also use a nuclear reactor at their core. And, looking to the future, nuclear propulsion systems [could help NASA plan deep space exploration missions](. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Linkedin]( [INNOVATION]INNOVATION [The Pentagon awards Lockheed Martin a contract for a crucial energy storage system]( The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded Lockheed Martin with a contract to construct the nation's first megawatt-scale long-duration energy storage system. Called the “GridStar Flow,” [it's a megawatt-scale wonder](. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Innovation - Meet the rocket-powered kamikaze: [the Yukosuka MXY7 Ohka](. - NASA's Dream Chaser space plane [could touch down in]( New Mexico's Spaceport America. - The Maldives' floating city [will soon unveil its first magnificent house](. [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [A rare Martian meteorite could rewrite our theory on how planets form]( A [recent analysis of a rare Martian meteorite]( revealed results that hint at how rocky planets like the Earth and Mars acquired volatile (life-forming) elements, including hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and noble gasses. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Science - Self-driving vehicles with memory? [Researchers have found a way](. - Here’s why the Starlink internet [could become unusable for many Americans](. - NASA [has extended InSight's mission]( to break new ground on Mars. [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS Earth is the only place so far known to have fossil fuels, but there are always other options. Which energy source will be the most viable on other planets? [For some planets, geothermal energy will be a game-changer.]( [Sun! It beats them all.]( [Nuclear. Obviously.]( [Let’s carry fossil fuels there! It makes billionaires very passionate.]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS We asked when you think the Voyager probes' record-breaking distance will be beaten. According to roughly half of you, it won't happen for another 75 years. 51% 75 years. 24% Not for a century. 16% It will never be broken (human extinction). 9% 200 years. [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY "If we do not find anything pleasant, at least we shall find something new." Voltaire in “Candide” (1759) [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image]( [Crownful Ice Maker]( [image]( [Avalon Water Cooler Dispenser]( [image]( [Whynter Portable Freezer]( [image]( [Lefeet Underwater Scooter S1 Pro]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - Can acupuncture [reduce chronic tension-type headaches]( Scientists think so. - The consumer giant Unilever vowed to ditch plastic sachets, single-use packaging that’s swamping poor countries with waste. [Privately, it fought to keep using them](. (Reuters) - [One set of STEM workers]( earns thousands more than any other group. - The story of the modern web is often told through the stories of Google, Facebook, and Amazon. But eBay [was the first conqueror](. (The Guardian) - A novel autonomous drone can dodge obstacles [at breakneck speeds](. - ​​Blood-red aurora, an eerie phenomenon still unexplained by science, [has transformed into “STEVE”]( before the stargazer's eyes. (Live Science) - A new study finds that one species of mite [is evolving from parasite to partner]( in an evolutionary relationship with humans. Prepared by Derya Özdemir and Brad Bergan Enjoy Reading? Forward this email to a friend. Was this email forwarded to you? [Join Free!]( [About Us]( [Advertise]( [Contact Us]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [Instagram]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage you e-mail preferences or unsubscribe [here](. © Copyright 2022 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 201 Spear Street, Suite 1100 San Francisco, CA 94105 | All Rights Reserved [Interesting Engineering]