A team at a university in north Wales has been conducting research which they say will make space travel safer and more efficient.
"We're working with industry partners like Rolls-Royce, the National Nuclear Laboratory and international partners like NASA to develop these really compact little reactors that go sit on the moon."The fuel has been created using TRISO particles - about the same size as poppy seeds - and could hold the key to sustaining life on a future moon base.
"The timescales for these are pretty short. We're looking at getting one of these reactors on the moon by the 2030s, so we really do need to get a wiggle on," Professor Middleburgh said."It's not just an ordinary challenge, it's not just standard nuclear fuel that you'd stick into your commercial electricity-generating reactor.
"It's got to deal with launch, it's got to deal with lots of forces on it. And it's then also got to be powering this reactor for 15 or so years."Sustaining a potential base on the moon is also a focus forProfessor Middleburgh said being part of the research - led by Dr Phylis Makurunje - was"wicked".
"It's every kid's dream I think to play around with the space race and be involved with it," he said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Moon base: Bangor scientists design fuel to live in spaceAn energy source which could sustain life on the Moon for long periods has been designed by researchers.
Read more »
Wales centre Mason Grady has tough family act to follow at first Rugby World CupThe Cardiff centre has risen rapidly through the ranks.
Read more »
Wales centre Mason Grady has tough family act to follow at first Rugby World CupThe Cardiff centre has risen rapidly through the ranks.
Read more »
Dad cycles across Wales in aid of Bristol Children's HospitalJamie Spiers lost his son Hugh to leukaemia when he was just four years old.
Read more »