Rolls-Royce teases micro nuclear reactor to power future human space vehicles

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The nuclear reactor being developed by the engine giant is expected to be part of an agreement it has signed with the UK Space Agency for a study into future nuclear power options.

In Short

• The nuclear reactor is being developed by the engine giant Rolls-Royce
• The company is trying to understand the potential of the atomic-powered spacecraft
• The micro-reactor has been designed to use an extremely robust fuel form.

As the world makes a breakthrough in nuclear fission, the UK’s Rolls-Royce is already invested in developing reactors that could power the future of space exploration. The automobile company, while known globally for its ultra-luxurious line of automobiles, has long been a big player in engine manufacturing for fighter jets.

The micro-reactor has been designed to use an extremely robust fuel form with uranium being the source. The company said that uranium particles have been encapsulated in state-of-the-art protective layers that will act as a containment system and allow them to withstand extreme conditions, the same as the one experienced during spaceflight.”A Rolls-Royce Micro-Reactor is designed to use an inherently safe and extremely robust fuel form. Each uranium particle is encapsulated in multiple protective layers that act as a containment system, allowing it to withstand extreme conditions,” Rolls-Royce said in a tweet.The nuclear reactor being developed by the engine giant is expected to be part of an agreement it has signed with the UK Space Agency for a study into future nuclear power options for space exploration. Rolls-Royce has said that it is the only company in the world with a singular focus on creating mechanical, electrical, and nuclear power solutions that will be essential in tackling the challenges of the future.The company is trying to understand the potential of atomic-powered spacecraft, and whether this new technology could help humans travel further and faster through space than ever before.