NASA Developing Nuclear Reactor For Moon and Mars 424
Al writes "NASA recently finished testing a miniature nuclear reactor that would provide power for an astronaut base on the Moon or Mars. The reactor combines a small fission system with a Stirling engine to make a 'safe, reliable, and efficient' way to produce electricity. The system being tested at NASA's Glenn Research Center can produce 2.3 kilowatts and could be ready for launch by 2020, NASA officials say. The reactor ought to provide much more power than solar panels but could prove controversial with the public concerned about launching a nuclear power source and placing it on the Moon or another planet."
The public doesn't want it on the Moon huh? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:mmhmmm (Score:4, Funny)
Yeah, until the fuel runs out. I'm pretty sure that with solar panels, the sun never runs out.
I'm 100% sure you are wrong.
Re:The public doesn't want it on the Moon huh? (Score:5, Funny)
Then they can give the reactor to me and I can finally send the power company a photocopy of my ass
What, your photocopier only works with on-site nuclear power?
Re:mmhmmm (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Nuclear Power on the Moon FTW! (Score:5, Funny)
The problem would be what exactly?
The impact to the wildlife on the moon?
Re:The public doesn't want it on the Moon huh? (Score:3, Funny)
No it will just continue to work with on-site power after I send the photocopy to the power company in place of my bill.
Maybe a sign that you should hit the gym more?
Re:The public doesn't want it on the Moon huh? (Score:5, Funny)
Must be a very large ass if he needs a nuclear powered photocopier.
And just what's wrong with... (Score:1, Funny)
Wind Power?
Re:Nuclear Power on the Moon FTW! (Score:5, Funny)
Never, ever, place you power source outside the buildings.
The aliens will simply cut the line, leaving you only 120 minutes (less Coming Attraction Previews) to figure out what's going on and go fix it.
Then, of course, the first few people you send after it will be killed and turned into alien zombies.
Then, when you finally figure that out, you have to crawl through the air ducts to get to the reactor (even though the reactor is supposedly isolated from the buildings) to sneak into the Alien queen's chamber and burn her to a crisp with the flame thrower that is standard issue on a moon colony.
Sheesh...don't you guys know anything?
What's the point (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Nuclear Power on the Moon FTW! (Score:5, Funny)
Lol, sounds like another opportunity! Head out to the next anti-nuclear rally and get people to sign a petition to shut down this unshielded fusion reactor. It's exposing us to several types of radiation every day, even as we speak! It causes severe burns on many people every day! Many species won't come out of their burrows because of it! While you're at it, you can ask them about their opinion of dihydrogen-monoxide.
Re:Nuclear Power on the Moon FTW! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Why the west is doomed (Score:3, Funny)
They're a danger to the rest of the world too.
Yeah, but in the rest of the world they're given a nice hot mug of STFU.
Re:mmhmmm (Score:5, Funny)
...unless you're ok with only breathing during the day...
I don't know about you, but I SLEEP during the night. Sheesh, this isn't rocket surgery.
Re:Nuclear Power on the Moon FTW! (Score:1, Funny)
I believe it's pronounced "nu-cu-lar"
Re:NUCLEAR IS NEVER THE ANSWER! (Score:2, Funny)
Yes, because, you know, we're going to have to drop atom bombs on those moon Nazis.
Of course, our other option is pelting them with hippies. Apparently, you're volunteering for that choice.
Re:The public doesn't want it on the Moon huh? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:mmhmmm (Score:2, Funny)
Your right in that
IAMAS (I'm not a Scientist)
wouldn't Solar Panels require
They've always struct me
a nuclear power planet
you would with Nuclear
lack there of
do you really think Uranium
Congratulations; you are a proud product of the AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM!
Re:Shouldn't be that dangerous (Score:2, Funny)
Had to re-read that. For a second, I thought you were referring to the Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator, and figured the US Government simply got the contract to supply them. And there would be a demand, since he seems to keep losing them all the time....
Re:mmhmmm (Score:5, Funny)
Re:NUCLEAR IS NEVER THE ANSWER! (Score:2, Funny)
Nuclear power is NEVER a viable solution to ANY problem for the simple reason that the knowledge to create nuclear power is the knowledge to make nuclear weapons. For the simpler people in the crowd, NUCLEAR POWER EQUALS NUCLEAR WEAPONS. There is NO SUCH THING as a "peaceful" nuclear program. All nuclear material can and will be weaponized. For this reason alone nuclear power must be forever abolished and forgotten.
Bring on the U.N. sanctions. No one sell pocket protectors to NASA. They might be used for nefarious purposes.
Re:mmhmmm (Score:3, Funny)
Could get difficult, politicians are extremely dense.
Re:Why not expoit temperature (Score:4, Funny)
NASA is years away from building, lofting and installing anything that requires miles of tubing.
That's not true. They've got a website [nasa.gov] don't they?
ALL CAPS IS NEVER THE ANSWER! (Score:5, Funny)