Westinghouse

At Westinghouse, our mission is to power meaningful lives by providing sustainable energy and reliable appliances, lighting, and electronics for the home.

Created: 2023-01-14

Updated: 2024-07-16

Company - Westinghouse

Founded
Country
1886
USA
Funding
Yes, ?
Website
https://westinghouse.com/
Social
Westinghouse

Product/Service

Classification
Space Utilities
Category
Resources - Energy
Nuclear Fission Power
Fields
Nuclear Power
Nuclear Fission Power
Moon
Status
Concept
First launch
Not announced
Partners
Aerojet Rocketdyne

NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are working together to advance space nuclear technologies. The agencies have selected three design concept proposals for a fission surface power system design that could be ready to launch by the end of the decade for a demonstration on the Moon.

This technology would benefit future exploration under the Artemis umbrella. The contracts, to be awarded through the DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory, are each valued at approximately $5 million. The contracts fund the development of initial design concepts for a 40-kilowatt class fission power system planned to last at least 10 years in the lunar environment.

Westinghouse and Astrobotic Team to Power Outer Space with eVinci™ Microreactor Technology

Westinghouse Electric Company and Astrobotic announced in June 2023 the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to explore collaboration on space technology programs for NASA and the Department of Defense.

The collaboration will focus on the development of space nuclear technology and delivery systems. The joint effort will also include strengthening the space nuclear supply chain and workforce in the Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia region.

Last year, Westinghouse was awarded a NASA/DOE contract to provide an initial design concept for a fission lunar surface power system.

Westinghouse is developing a scaled-down version of the 5-MWe eVinci™ microreactor to power spacecraft in orbit or for deployment on the surface of planetary bodies such as the Moon or Mars, providing continuous power for space research and other applications. The inherent simplicity of the eVinci technology supports these critical space missions by providing a reliable, resilient, low-mass power generation system that can be operated autonomously. The technology is ideal for electricity generation for the lunar surface, satellites and electric propulsion.

Air Force Research Lab awards design contracts for nuclear powered spacecraft

Status Comment / Notes

Similar Organizations

X-Charge

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming, Space Solar Power, In-Orbit Data Storage, In-Orbit Computing

3K SpaceTech

Dormant, Early stage

Mini Modular Reactor (MMR)

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

AGPower92

Early stage, Dormant

Orbital Solar

Space Solar Power, Power Beaming, Resources - Energy

Alvior

Dormant, Early stage

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Antares

Development

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy

Aphelia Space

Development

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy

Aquila Earth

Development

LunaGrid

Resources - Energy, Lunar Power Service

Astrobotic

Development

Quark

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Resources - Energy, On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling

Atomos

Development

Orbitron

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fusion Power

Avalanche Energy

Development

HEBAM

ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Resources - Energy, Hardware

Azimut Space

Concept

Resources - Energy

Blue Origin

Concept

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

BWX Technologies

Early stage

LEUNR

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Canadian Space Mining Corporation

Early stage

50KW Vertical Solar Array Technology

Resources - Energy, Lunar Power Service

Ceres Robotics

Development

Resources - Energy, Hardware

Clara Venture Labs

Development

Resources - Energy, Lunar Electric Grid

Constanellis Aerospace

Development

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

Draper Laboratory

Development

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy, Space Solar Power

Emrod

Development

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy, Space Solar Power

Entropy Research and Development

Dormant, Early stage

Resources - Energy, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)

Extraterrestrial Power

Concept

Nuclear Fission Power, Orbital Transportation, Resources - Energy, Hardware, Transport Service (LEO-Moon)

Gryphon Technologies (ManTech)

Development

Helicity Drive

Resources - Energy, Space Tug, Nuclear Fusion Power, In-Space Logistics

Helicity Space

Early stage

ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Space Resources, Resources - Energy, Space Robotics, Robotic Arm

Honda Motor Co

Development

LUNARSABER

Resources - Energy, Space Robotics

Honeybee Robotics (Blue Origin)

Development

SPRINT, SPEAR

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Radioisotope Power, Solar Thermal Propulsion, Active Debris Removal (ADR)

Howe Industries

Concept

Resources - Energy

Ion Power Group

Idea

IX

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

IX (Intuitive Machines, X-Energy)

Development

Resources - Energy

KC Space Pirates (Kansas City Space Pirates)

Concept

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming, Space Solar Power

KESE

Concept

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Lockheed Martin

Concept, Development

Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Resources - Energy

Lumi Space

Development, Cancelled

Resources - Energy, Lunar Electric Grid

Lunar Night Survival

Dormant, Concept

Farview Observatory, Lunar South Pole Oxygen Pipeline

In-Space Manufacturing, Resources - Energy, Space Construction Company

Lunar Resources

Early stage

TerraBox

Resources - Energy, Resources - Oxygen, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), In-Space Manufacturing

Maana Electric

Development

MDA

Canadaarm3, SKYMAKER

On-Orbit Servicing, Space Robotics, Commercial Rover, Resources - Energy, In-Space Assembly, In-Space Manufacturing

MDA Space

Development

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fusion Power

NearStar Fusion

Development

Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research (SSPIDR)

Space Solar Power, Resources - Energy

Northrop Grumman

Development

NPT

Resources - Energy, Hardware

NuPromethean Technologies (NPT)

Early stage

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power, Orbital Transportation

OHB Czechspace

Concept

P3 (Power, Prospecting and Propellant)

Resources - Energy, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Lunar Power Service, Lunar Electric Grid

Orbital Mining Corporation (OMC)

Development

Space Solar Power, Power Beaming, Lunar Power Service, Resources - Energy

ORiS (Orbital Recharge in Space)

Development

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

Photonicity

Early stage

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy

Powerlight

Development

Direct Fusion Drive (DFD)

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fusion Power

Princeton Satellite Systems

Development

Direct Fusion Drive (DFD)

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fusion Power

Pulsar Fusion

Development

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy, Lunar Electric Grid, Space Solar Power

Pulse Space (Litepulse)

Early stage

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Rocket Engineering

Concept

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

Roland Berger

Concept

Rolls-Royce

Nuclear Fission Power, Nuclear Radioisotope Power, Resources - Energy

Rolls-Royce

Concept

RTX

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

RTX Corporation (Raytheon)

Development

Resources - Energy

Satellite Squared

Dormant, Early stage

Luna Ring

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming, Hardware

Shimizu Corporation

Concept

ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Space Resources, Resources - Energy

Sierra Space (Sierra Nevada Corp, SNC)

Development

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

Solar.Space

Dormant, Idea

Resources - Energy, Space Solar Power, Hardware

Solestial

Concept, Development

Resources - Energy, Space Solar Power, Power Beaming

Space Power

Development

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

Spacefaring Services

Dormant

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

SpaceNukes (Space Nukes,Space Nuclear Power Corporation)

Development

Project SEEE

Resources - Energy, Space Solar Power, Power Beaming

Stellarion Energy  (STELLA)

Dormant, Concept

MPR (Mobile Power Rover)

Commercial Rover, Power Beaming, Resources - Energy

STELLS

Development

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

SunCubes

Development

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

The Lunar Grid

Dormant

PULSAR

Nuclear Radioisotope Power, Resources - Energy

Tractbel

Early stage, Concept

Pylon

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power, Commercial Rover, Orbital Transportation

Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC)

Development

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fusion Power

US Nuclear Corp

Development

Space Solar Power, Power Beaming, Resources - Energy

Virtus Solis

Development

Power Beaming, Resources - Energy, Lunar Electric Grid

Volta Space Technologies (Eternal Light)

Development

Xe-100 Reactor

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

X-Energy

Development

Resources - Energy, Power Beaming

XISP (Xtraordinary Innovative Space Partnerships)

Early stage

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Radioisotope Power

Zeno Power Systems

Development

Mini Modular Reactor (MMR)

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

AGPower92

Early stage, Dormant

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Antares

Development

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

BWX Technologies

Early stage

LEUNR

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Canadian Space Mining Corporation

Early stage

Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation, Nuclear Fission Power

Dark Fission Space Systems

Development

Nuclear Fission Power, Nuclear Radioisotope Power

Framatome Space

Concept

Nuclear Fission Power, Orbital Transportation, Resources - Energy, Hardware, Transport Service (LEO-Moon)

Gryphon Technologies (ManTech)

Development

IX

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

IX (Intuitive Machines, X-Energy)

Development

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Lockheed Martin

Concept, Development

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power, Orbital Transportation

OHB Czechspace

Concept

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

Rocket Engineering

Concept

Rolls-Royce

Nuclear Fission Power, Nuclear Radioisotope Power, Resources - Energy

Rolls-Royce

Concept

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

SpaceNukes (Space Nukes,Space Nuclear Power Corporation)

Development

Pylon

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power, Commercial Rover, Orbital Transportation

Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC)

Development

Xe-100 Reactor

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power

X-Energy

Development