The agreement focuses on several areas of collaboration, including joint research and development, as well as licensing intellectual property rights to advance the reactor for lunar missions and remote terrestrial use. This initiative aligns with Canada's renewed leadership in nuclear technology, paving the way for the application of small modular reactors (SMRs) in emerging markets.
"This is a pivotal moment in our journey to develop micro-reactors that meet current and future needs," said Daniel Sax, CEO of CSMC. "We are confident in our ability to deploy the world's first reactor on the Moon, contributing to international space exploration as part of NASA's Artemis missions. At the same time, we see immense potential for commercializing this technology here on Earth, offering a sustainable and reliable energy solution to replace diesel generators in remote and Indigenous communities across the Arctic."
SLOWPOKE-2, a Canadian-designed reactor, has long been recognized for its safety and reliability. Of the eight reactors built, three remain operational, showcasing the durability of this technology. CSMC is modernizing the SLOWPOKE-2 design into a commercially viable version, known as LEUNR, which will meet contemporary energy demands and enable future demonstrations.
Dr. Stephen Bushby, Vice-President of Science and Technology at CNL, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: "CNL is excited to work alongside AECL and CSMC to breathe new life into the SLOWPOKE nuclear reactor technology, revitalizing what is a safe and proven technology. This agreement lays the foundation for continued collaborative research, leveraging the expertise at CNL to modernize the technology to meet the demands of today's market, and is aligned with CNL's efforts to commercialize this and other AECL reactor technologies."
Dr. Amy Gottschling, Vice-President of Science, Technology and Commercial Oversight at AECL, emphasized the importance of this partnership: "This collaboration signals another key step in cementing Canada's competitive position in the current and future nuclear market. It is another example of the world-leading innovation happening within the nuclear energy sector in Canada, building off the decades of work enabled by our national nuclear laboratories."
Related Links
Canadian Space Mining Corporation
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |