Lunar Gas Stations Need Nuclear Power: Engineers Face Massive Energy Challenge ⚡
Ars Technica
Feb 17, 2025
6 min read
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Summary
Converting lunar resources into fuel faces significant energy challenges. Processing moon regolith into oxygen requires massive power infrastructure – about 24kWh per kg of oxygen. With current technology, fueling an empty Starship would take approximately 2 years, highlighting the need for nuclear power solutions on the Moon.
Mentioned in this article
Organizations
SpaceX spacecraft_provider
NASA research_agency
Technologies
ilmenite processing prototype
Starship
solar arrays operational
nuclear power proposed
Facilities
International Space Station space_station
Earth-Moon Lagrange Point 1 orbital_point
Lunar Mare regions resource_location
Timeline
Phase: research
Current:
2025-02-17