3 ms·

I don't see battery storage as a problem for the first outpost, but yes, kilopower reactors were made exactly for this. Another option for early missions is ju

I don't see battery storage as a problem for the first outpost, but yes, kilopower reactors were made exactly for this. Another option for early missions is just to limit them to 14 days. Heating of the base can be achieved by preheating the regolith deep beneath the surface. With regolith density we know, it should be well feasible. Thermal insulation can be made very efficient in space because there is no atmosphere. I see a nuclear/rtg base power for life support, and solar powered regolith smelting following the 14 day cycle.

Robotbeat 5y ago
That’s pretty reasonable. Particularly since nuclear (fission or radioisotope) produces a lot more heat than electricity (thermal to electrical conversion efficiency is just 23% for Kilopower and 3-9% for RTGs), so using it for base heating during the night is a much better argument. And even some solar powered rovers like Spirit and Opportunity used small radioisotope heat sources to stay warm.