꞉꞉  Continuous Power For Lunar Infrastructure

BEAST is our fission reactor power program for larger surface missions. The BEAST-100X concept combines a reactor with a turbine-generator to target 40-60 kilowatts of continuous electrical output.

Discuss a power requirement
BEAST fission reactor lander with radiator panels
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Fission BEAST

Earth rising over the lunar horizon

Power for larger operations

Application

Surface facilities and industrial equipment need sustained electricity. BEAST is being developed to supply those loads independently of sunlight, with useful heat available as part of the wider system concept.

How it works

The proposed architecture combines a reactor using coated fuel particles, known as TRISO, with passive heat pipes and a closed Brayton power-conversion cycle.

Reactor Heat

Controlled nuclear fission produces the heat that drives the system.

Heat Transport

Heat pipes carry energy from the reactor to the power-conversion system.

Electrical Generation

A recirculating gas loop drives a turbine-generator. Power management and distribution connect the electrical output to mission equipment.

BEAST reactor lander on a white background

Concept targets

(Target output)
(Development target)
Reactor thermal power
200 kW of heat
Continuous electrical output
40-60 kW of electricity
Dry system mass
5-10 tons

A staged development program

The roadmap begins with subsystem trials and a preliminary design review, followed by a non-nuclear test rig and feasibility work. It also includes Scout, a smaller development branch targeting 10-15 kilowatts of electrical output.